Knitted poppies to help decorate the town for Remembrance Sunday are continuing to pour in to the Civic Centre in Mansfield – and the council has extended the deadline to receive them until Friday, 24th October.

It is also appealing for help to turn the individual poppies into garlands and bunting which will be used to decorate the route of the Remembrance Day parade on Sunday, 10th November.

A stall will be running at Mansfield Market on Tuesday, 29th October and Wednesday, 30th October from 10am to 3pm during the school half term, supported by the local Royal British Legion branch, when members of the public can get involved to help make the garlands.

Children are welcome to join in. A stall to make garlands will also be running on the same days at Mansfield Museum.

It is the third year that the council has organised the People’s Poppies campaign and last year 15,000 knitted and crocheted poppies were hung on displays at the front of the Old Town Hall as a stunning tribute marking the 100th anniversary of the the end of the First World War.

This year the council put out a renewed appeal for people to keep knitting and so far over 1,000 more colourful creations have been arriving in bags and boxes at the Civic Centre.

Poppies can still be dropped off at the Civic Centre, marked for the attention of the Marketing and Communications team, or can be taken along to the stalls during half term.

Cllr Stuart Richardson, Deputy Mayor and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Growth, said: “We would like to thank the people of Mansfield – and beyond – for their incredible support in this appeal.

“The People’s Poppies made an unforgettable statement last year and that is down to the effort put in by all the people who supported it.

“This year we would like to build on that by adding extra decorations around the town centre. If you can spare a few minutes to help create the bunting and garlands, that would be great.

“Bring the children or grandchildren, too! Let’s show how much Mansfield cares for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.”

Cllr Mick Barton, who has been involved in the People’s Poppies appeal for the past three years, added: “I love helping the Royal British Legion, council, and working alongside our veterans, to bring all ages together to remember our fallen heroes and current servicemen and women at this time of year.

“It really brings everyone together and we all should do our little bit to help and educate our youngsters never to forget what sacrifices were made for us all .

The displays will go up in time for 10 November and will adorn part of the route for the Remembrance Sunday parade, which goes through the town centre via West Gate and into the Market Place on the way to St Peter’s Church. For more information visit www.mansfield.gov.uk/poppies