Hundreds of children from Westwood Primary School paid their respects to those who have given their lives to protect our country earlier today.

Managing to stay quiet throughout an Armistice Day two minute silence, a pin drop could be heard on the school’s grounds as 640 children, along with parents, teachers and staff bowed their heads to mark the national event.

Head teacher Gill Thomas commended the children on behaving so well and welcomed year six pupil Tabitha Sugden to read a memorial poem before two children laid down their handmade poppies.

All 270 red clay poppies, which children from year’s four, five and six had been working on since July, were proudly displayed for all to see.

Miss Allen, PPA art coordinator at Westwood, said: “We started off looking at the London poppies and the story behind it and then studying the different stages of clay work.

“They’ve really worked hard,” she added. “I really like to get them thinking creatively and I think they were so thrilled this morning when they came in because they could see their work come to life.”

Graham Wesley, from NSA Royal Air Force, said: “It’s very commendable. All of the poppies look wonderful and it’s nice to see schools doing this sort of thing.”

Staff sergeant Ben Jones, from the 42 engineer regiment, said: “I think it’s fantastic that they have this in their education at such a young age.

“The children did very well keeping quiet for such a long time and the teachers did brilliantly managing to keep them quiet for so long”, he added.

The poppies will be sold to parents and the money will go towards the Royal British Legion and Help the Heroes.