BURITON residents and children are being invited to put forward designs for the grass area around the village war memorial.

Most of the land around the memorial outside the church is owned by Buriton Parish Council, and it hopes to smarten it up and make it more user friendly.

The council is asking villagers and children at Buriton Primary School and Ditcham Park School to suggest designs.

Council chairman Karen White said: “This is an important site in the village and we want everybody who lives in the parish, or is at school here, to be involved.

"The best way to do this seemed to be to organise a competition in which anyone who wants to can enter."

The council has produced an information pack to help the ‘grand designers,’ for instance the railings around the memorial must stay.

The packs will be available at the Buriton village show on the recreation ground this Saturday.

Fliers will also go to every house in the parish and to the schools, outlining the competition and how to obtain an information pack.

The competition is being organised by a committee of two parish councillors and residents, and the closing date for designs is November 11 – Remembrance Sunday.

Parish councillor Maggie Johnston said: “We want to create a tranquil site to commemorate all those from the parish who have served their country, not just in the armed forces, but also at home helping the war effort.

"We would like to have something completed by November 2018, so we don’t want to waste any time."

For details, or an information pack, contact Buriton Parish Council by email at: [email protected] or call 07943 536065.