A further 4,000 knitted and crocheted poppies are needed to help create an extra-special Remembrance Sunday display in Mansfield Town Centre.

More than 6,000 poppies have been knitted this year, which will be added to the 8,000 that were made by hundreds of local volunteers for last year’s display on the front of the Old Town Hall.

Mansfield District Council is appealing for more people to get involved to help reach the target of 18,000 to help mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Poppy decorations will also adorn part of the route for the Remembrance Day parade involving various community groups, which will start with a wreath laying ceremony at the Civic Centre war memorial at 10am before heading to St Peter’s Church for a memorial service at 10.55am, and then continuing after the service to the Market Palace at noon where there will be a military salute.

It will be followed by a veterans’ 1940s tea dance. A wreath will also be laid at Carr Bank Park at 1.15pm.

Deputy Mayor of Mansfield Cllr Mick Barton, who has been spearheading the council’s poppy appeal, said: “This year is an extra special Remembrance Sunday, marking a centenary to the day since peace was declared after four terrible years of war.

“We aim to reflect that in Mansfield with what will be a magnificent display and in order to make that display really spectacular, we still need your poppies. It is not too late to get involved so please get knitting – even if you make just ten poppies, it will help.”

Finished poppies can be taken to the Civic Centre, Mansfield, marked for the attention of the Marketing and Communications team. They will be collected until 21 September – though any late arrivals will not be turned away! Be sure to leave two pieces of yarn at the back of the poppy so they can be attached to netting.

The council will then be offering people the chance to help attach the poppies to the camouflage nets in the Market Place in the week beginning 22 October. People can also come along and write messages on a commemoration board at the same time, and donate a pound or two to the Royal British Legion’s poppy appeal.

The displays will be installed during the week prior to Remembrance Sunday on 11 November.

If you are interested in helping you can speak to the Events team on 01623 463376 or email [email protected] for more information. Details and poppy knitting patterns to download can be found online at www.mansfield.gov.uk/poppies