A group of Petersfield residents have launched a special project to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Christine Rushton and Rosemary Roberts are the organisers behind the new Petersfield Poppy Project.

The initiative will see knitted and crocheted poppies cover St Peter’s Church in a waterfall effect as a backdrop for the November Remembrance service.

Ms Rushton said: “We saw the longest yarn at Aldershot, which was a fantastic exhibition from D-Day. In the church was this lovely fall of poppies and we decided Petersfield needed a waterfall of poppies too.

“Being the 80th anniversary we thought this November was the time to do it. We need a minimum of 6,000 poppies and the further we go it could be nearer 10,000!”

Town crier Faye Thompson officially launched the project alongside her ​​husband, deputy town crier Martin Johnson, with the Bognor Regis town crier coming down to support the event.

It had only just hit 9am at the Saturday market and already the stall had a lineup of people eager to get involved.

The Rev Will Hughes commented: “I couldn't be more excited about this project. It shows we are still committed to remembering and making a statement about what kind of town we are and our values, it’s just wonderful.”

Ms Rushton added: “We're having a knit group on the third Monday of the month, one till three at St Peter's Church in the meeting room, we'll have people to teach you to knit and crochet.

“People could come and help us tie on the poppies and all you need to do is a reef knot and we can teach you, that will be October.”

Another way to help is to make a donation of £1.50, to go towards purchasing the minimum of 600 balls of yarn needed for the project.