A Wisbech church is marking the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of WW1.

The Friends of St Augustine’s is creating a chain of poppies to hang around the church during the upcoming Heritage weekend to commemorate the sacrifices of the men and women of Wisbech, who lost their lives during the Great War.

The Friends and groups associated with the church have been working to create 281 poppies – one for every name on the town’s war memorial from the First World War – using an array of materials and craft skills, including knitting and crochet.

They also want the community to get involved in making poppies using fabric, wool or felt, but not paper. On the back of each poppy there will be attached a small name tag, and anyone contributing a poppy can dedicate it to a family member who either died or fought in WW1, or any other conflict.

“We know it is to commemorate the 100th anniversary of WW1, but if people want to remember a family member who fought and died in any other conflict then that is perfectly acceptable,” said Jessie Tindale, of the Friends.

St Augustine’s Church will be open throughout Wisbech Heritage weekend, which runs from September 11 to 14, and it is hoped the Poppy Link Event will encourage more visitors to the church.

“We have taken part in the heritage weekend for the past two or three years, but because we are slightly on the edge of the town we don’t get as many visitors as we would like. We hope the poppy chain will encourage more people to come,” said Julie Mills, also of the Friends.

The Friends plan to attend an event in Wisbech Park organised by the Royal British Legion for Sunday August 3 to mark the anniversary of the outbreak of the war.

The poppy chain will come out every Armistice Day on November 11.

The Church is also running a poppies-themed painting competition for all age groups. Pictures, which can be created in any media, will be displayed in the church over the heritage weekend.

Steve Barclay, MP for North East Cambridgeshire, said: “It is vital that we remember the sacrifices made by the men and women from our area, who lost their lives during WW1. The Poppy Link is a truly innovative idea. I hope the local community will fully support it.”