THOUSANDS of poppies have filled the bushes surrounding a Lymington church.

It comes as part of a pledge by St Mark’s Church, Pennington, to commemorate lives lost in the war along with soldiers who are still fighting in conflict today, ahead of Remembrance Day.

This is the second year they have turned their usually green bushes into bright colours of red to pay respect to military personnel, with around 2,000 knitted and crocheted poppies which curve round to Wainsford Road.

With a giant ‘We Will Remember Them’ shown across one bush, they are shaped using poppies created by volunteers in Pennington, as well as those part of the church congregation.

Residents can pick up materials to make the poppies from nearby shops surrounding the church.

The display was brought to life on Monday and will remain on show until after Remembrance Day passes.

Associate priest Anne Elliott said: “We did it last year and it was a great success.

“We need to recognise the need for people to pay respect to those lives lost and those involved in conflict today. We need each other, and it is really important to facilitate that by allowing people to become a part of it themselves. Remembrance Day particularly affects people who have relatives serving in different conflicts.

“People have been driving in to visit the poppy display and we have had umpteen Facebook likes, which have multiplied far above what we got last year. We use crochet and knitted poppies as more people can make them, and volunteers involve groups such as local care homes - which is great because people who cannot get up can get involved.”

She added: “A completely mixed bunch of people have been making them, and we do it to be part of a community. The church wants to bring everyone together. It was all down to our new vicar Rachel, as it was her idea.”

Remembrance Day takes place on Monday November 11 to remember the members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty.