SERVICEMEN and women who gave their lives in The First World War are to be remembered by a commemorative flame at Tatton Park.

Three-dimensional glass designer Alex Blakey is working with Cheshire East Reflects to produce an art work which will stand outside the mansion at the park.

It will be lit every day from August 4, the date of the start of The Great War, until November 11, 2018, the date of the Armistice.

The flame is due to be switched on by Tatton MP George Osborne at a ceremony attended by the leader of Cheshire East Council.

Cheshire East Reflects is a four-year programme run by Cheshire East Council to commemorate the centenary of the conflict.

The surround of the art work will be created from kiln-formed glass, with a cast concrete base.

The glass will be formed to include the imprints of images of Cheshire East from The First World War, taken from photographs, drawings and accounts, and words will be sandblasted into the glass to mark those men from Cheshire East who gave their lives.

“The piece will allow visitors to Tatton Park and the flame to gain a glimpse into the lives of local people during The First World War,” said Alex, from Alx Creations, who is based in Huddersfield.

“The flame represents an eternal memory. Seeing the flame through glass represents how we today picture the war, with slightly blurred vision.

“Time and memory may distort the images, but those images will never be extinguished from our hearts and minds. Visitors can view the flame literally ‘through’ the words and pictures of those who were there.”

The plinth on which the art work will be mounted will be coloured to match the stone of the mansion house, and the flame will be visible from the drive through to the main public car parks and from the mansion.

The flame is due to be installed from next month to allow time for testing, and will be removed in December 2018.

Planning approval for the scheme is being sought from Cheshire East Council.