KNITTING and craft groups in Holmes Chapel have created a superb display of poppies in and around St Luke’s Church.

The groups from Holmes Chapel and District University of the Third Age knitted or crocheted more than 1,000 poppies, some of which adorn the ends of pews in the church and hang in a curtain over the balcony.

The U3A donated £100 to help with the cost of wool and buttons.

The village’s poppy appeal was launched on October 27, and a free exhibition is being staged in St Luke’s this weekend.

The exhibition at the church hall will include letters from soldiers, and is being staged by the Local History Group of the Holmes Chapel and District U3A.

Over the past six years the group has researched all the 225 soldiers who joined the services from Holmes Chapel and surrounding area

Thanks were expressed to the four councillors who installed 50 large poppies on lampposts throughout the centre of the village.

The poppies were obtained through Holmes Chapel Royal British Legion, which received a donation from the parish council.

Photographs by Mr V Sumptor