AN incredible memorial to the armed services has been unveiled in Redcar.

The mural by artist Drew Allan has been painted on the side of a house next to the town's Garden of Remembrance, where Elliot Street meets Coatham Road.

Mr Allan completed the mural on Thursday, ahead of today's Remembrance Sunday service.

It was commissioned by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and the garden will be a place where people can go to remember their loved ones. 

The Northern Echo:

Mr Allan said: "I started it some time ago but it's weather dependent and I had to self-isolate for two weeks as well.

"It was an honour to do it.

"It has been hard to keep up with saying thank you to everyone for their comments. It's a shame with lockdown they didn't get the crowds it might have.

"It seems to have been well received by the community. I think it's going to be an iconic thing in Redcar now and hopefully something people are going to see."

The mural makes recognition of the army, navy and RAF and includes a sea of red poppies.

Some of the ideas came from Mr Allan's grandmother, Mabel Gildroy, who sadly died with covid just before it was completed.

Mr Allan said: "My nana was an avid military person. She was 102 when she died and she was desperate for me to finish it so she could see it.

"She was giving me a lot of ideas for it. I hope wherever she is now, she can see it."

The garden will also include a memorial wall, with the names of people who have died.