THE final touches have been made to Newton Aycliffe ahead of remembrance events this weekend.

Memorial benches have been installed outside St Clare’s Church by Great Aycliffe Town Council while a community poppy display is in place on the lawn outside and nearby railings.

The two commemorative benches are the final part of the council’s commitment to mark the centenary of the armistice.

During 2018 the council has planted poppy meadows throughout the town and installed two 6ft Tommy silhouette sculptures which stand in silent tribute to the fallen at St Clare’s and Aycliffe Village. And now outside St Clare’s is a new meadow of knitted poppies. The display was the vision of the late Syd Howarth who recruited a knitting group from St Mary’s Catholic Church and called for willing knitters and donations of wool in the Newton News. More groups and individuals came on board to help create more than 2,500 poppies

Paul Howarth, Newton News editor, said: “A huge thank you to all who have taken part in what has been a terrific community project.

“For Syd it was his final community project, and what a tribute to him.”