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Thousands of poppies make up 'river of tears'

Luke Deal/BBC The village green in West Row, surrounded by bungalows, with red knitted and crocheted poppies attached to camouflage netting forming a cascade from bottom of the village sign, across the grass and towards the cameraLuke Deal/BBC
The cascade runs up to the war memorial in West Row

A cascade of thousands of knitted and crocheted red poppies has become a village centrepiece in time for Remembrance Day.

The eye-catching creation runs from the West Row sign, near Mildenhall, Suffolk, towards the war memorial in the centre of the village green.

Rosalind Hamill, vice-chairwoman of the parish council, said she was inundated with offers when she put out a plea for poppies on social media in January - with one woman making more than 1,000.

"The community spirit here in West Row is amazing, so I am proud of what the volunteers did together, as a community," she told BBC Suffolk.

Luke Deal/BBC Close up view of red knitted poppies Luke Deal/BBC
Ms Hamill said the different shades of red wool had proved effective

More than 40 crafty contributors from West Row and surrounding villages heeded the call and knitted countless poppies.

"It just grew and grew," said Ms Hamill.

"A knit and natter group was created which met every Thursday, some wanted to do them in their own home in their own time, and it just got to be a great social event.

"We had so many we created this river of tears, symbolising those that gave their lives."

Knitter Janice Killey said she was "so proud" she had made 1,072 poppies and plenty of new friends along the way.

Organisers used the parish offices to put together the "river" with camouflage netting, inspired by elements of the display at the Tower of London 10 years ago.

Residents "absolutely love it", with hundreds of positive comments on the community Facebook page, Ms Hamill added.

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