Cascade of knitted poppies pour from historic West Midlands church to mark fallen soldiers

Thousands of crocheted red poppies cascade from a medieval church ahead of Remembrance Day.

More than 200 volunteers spent months hand-stitching the 6,2500 poppies which now adorn the side of St Peter’s Church in Inkberrow, Worcs.

The striking display creates the dramatic illusion of a red waterfall falling from the bell tower towards the war memorial, where the names of those who fell in two world wars are carved.

Organisers had aimed to complete 4,000 poppies before November 11 but smashed that target by 2,500.

People aged from six to 92 knitted and crocheted the red poppies during events held in The Old Bull Inn, said to be the model for The Bull pub in BBC Radio 4's The Archers.

Hundreds of poppies were also flown in from Lanzarote by expats and supporters of war veterans following a social media appeal for knitters to help hit the target.

A total of 34 men from the village lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars.

Churchwarden Melanie Hart, who was one of the co-ordinators for this year's poppy project, said: “We soon got things going with the Women's Institute and when many more people within the village became involved it snowballed.

"One lady told us how knitting the poppies had helped after losing her dog, which had always sat on her lap at night, giving her a new focus.

“That we smashed our target so quickly and by so much reflects how greatly so many people respect those who fought and fell for our freedom and will do whatever they can to honour them.”

One villager said: "It is a spectacular illustration of the sacrifices which so many made in the world wars.

"I've seen parents stop with their children to look at the display and explain to them what it means and that is so good to see. We simply must remember what those young men and women did for us."