PROPOSALS to deliver a unique armistice commemoration in Ringwood have been backed by town councillors.

Led by Rev Terry Roberts the project to provide a permanent replacement of the Lantern of Remembrance on the Gateway building was supported by members of Ringwood Town Council's policy and finance committee.

The plans are to commission the production of a bespoke light styled on a First World War trench lantern, accompanied by poppies, a solider silhouette with a rifle pointing downwards and back plate inscribed with the words "we shall remember them".

A lantern has been located above the entrance to the Gateway since 2014 to mark the centenary since the beginning of the conflict.

The light used was made available from the stock of Christmas lanterns and was initially only planned to be in place for a year.

Following positive responses from the community it remained in place ever since and has been alight on the anniversary of the death of every Ringwood service man or woman. The names are listed month by month on one of the public notice boards outside the Gateway.

To mark 100 years since the end of the First World War organisers are planning to provide the more notable mark of remembrance, which is estimated to cost £5,000 with plans to raise funds through the community.

Speaking at the committee meeting, Rev Roberts said: "This would be an opportunity to have something quite unique to commemorate the end of the First World War.

"Given the history of the current lantern we have outside this building, which was there for the beginning of the war and has done with what was available at the time, it seems good to have something which was a statement by Ringwood of its thoughts and concerns about those who gave their lives for the local community."

Rev Roberts said everyone he has spoken to is very supportive and those behind the scheme are confident of raising the required funds.

Cllr Michael Thierry said: "This is probably the only lantern of remembrance in the entire country.

"In the time we have had it I cannot recall any other person saying "we've got one of those".

"The significance of it was brought home to me last year when I met a couple in the Meeting House who come over from Lewes as a pilgrimage because that was the day in which the lantern was lit for her father whose names appears.

"They make a pilgrimage every year on that particular day to Ringwood for the lighting of the lantern.

"I have no misgivings at all about the value to this town and to the memory of those who were associated with this town whose names will be commemorated."