School children have helped plant the world’s largest poppy to mark the World War One centenary.

Children from Thomas Eaton School, Wimblington, dug in to help nearby Skylark Garden Centre plant more than 60,000 poppies in the shape of a giant poppy as part of the preparations for the annual Skylark Maize Maze, which this year marks the centenary of the First World War.

Edward Gowler from Skylark said: “This year the Skylark Maize Maze is marking the 100th anniversary of the First World War. The maze design will include a giant poppy made from poppies which is 40m in diameter and covers an area of 1300 square meters.

“It’s a huge area to plant, bigger than an Olympic size swimming pool, and with the help of the local school children we are planting over 60,000 Flanders poppies which have been specially grown for us.

“We believe it will be the biggest poppy in the world made from poppy plants and have applied to Guinness World Records. At the moment the poppies are just seedlings but once they are in flower it will make a spectacular site for visitors to discover in the maze.

“It does depend on the weather but all being well the poppies will be blooming by the time the maize maze opens on July 19.”

Visitors to the maize maze this summer will have to navigate the pathways of the World War One centenary maze and find the ration stamps to put in their mess tins.

Proceeds from the sale of the maze maps which cost £1 each will go to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.