PLANS to lay a mile-long walkway of poppies recreating the route Witney soldiers made when leaving to fight in the First World War have received strong support from the community.

The Witney Town Council-led initiative hopes to see thousands of poppies handmade by members of the community cascading from the Corn Exchange in Market Square and leading to the old train station.

The Poppy Mile will commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War on Armistice Day, November 11, next year.

Chris Holliday, former mayor of Witney and chairman of the council’s First World War working party, said he was delighted to see people getting behind the plans already.

He said: “We will be unveiling a new memorial on The Leys to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War.

“November 11, 2018, will be a great opportunity for the people of Witney to remember the ordinary people, leading ordinary lives, who marched this route as they went to war, to serve king and country, many of whom did not return.

“Their sacrifice gave us the freedoms we all enjoy today. The Witney community has always been very supportive of our remembrance services.

“Next year will be particularly special and the folk of Witney like a challenge.

“There are already groups within the town who are busy setting up ‘knit and natter’ groups and we are expecting poppies in their thousands. It’s all about people.”

The ‘mile’ is actually roughly a quarter of a mile and will start at the Corn Exchange where the soldiers would have gathered and continue across Market Square, up Church Green and through the churchyard at St Mary’s before moving onto The Leys, which was the route to the railway station.

Many people are already making poppies and spreading the word through family and friends.

A Witney embroidery group will be stitching poppies and a Slimming World group in the area is being encouraged to knit in their spare time instead of eating.

People taking part do not need to knit the poppies, and are welcome to make them in other ways.

The council has issued crochet and knitting patterns online at bit.ly/2wRvFgzThose without the internet can drop into the Town Hall or Corn Exchange for a pattern.