IT provides a place to sit and reflect on the sacrifice of Marston’s war heroes.

A new bench in Marston Road honours the 27 men from the parish who were killed during the Second World War.

The road is already lined with trees which were planted on Armistice Day in 1950, and a plaque put up last year lists the fallen soldiers’ names.

Money for the new bench and the plaque came from Marston city councillor Mick Haines’s community grant fund.

The plaque cost £500 and was put up last October, and the bench cost £1,500.

Mr Haines said villagers had wanted to find a lasting way of remembering Marston’s war dead.

He said: “When we found out the reason why the trees were planted there, we decided we wanted a plaque.

“The plaque was put up last year and we had a ceremony.

“The vicar read out the names of those who died and we had The Last Post.

“Then we decided we wanted a bench as well, so people can sit and reflect on the sacrifice they made.”

The bench has been welcomed by Marston residents, including grandparents Malcolm and Cynthia Kitching, of Lewell Avenue.

Former Oxford University stores worker Mr Kitching said: “I’ve lived in Marston for 40 years and my wife was born and bred here, and we think it’s a very good idea.

“It’s our way of saying thank you to all those people who gave their lives.”

Armistice Day marks the signing of the Armistice pact between Allied troops and Germany at the end of the First World War.

It also commemorates those who died in the Second World War and subsequent conflicts.