A PILLAR made from of thousands of poppies now stands proudly as a poignant tribute to Oxfordshire's fallen.

The memorial was installed by firefighters on behalf of Eynsham Women's Institute, ahead of the Armistice Day centenary anniversary on Sunday, November 11.

The Royal British Legion officially launched its poppy appeal on Thursday, and several events took place in Oxfordshire yesterday to symbolise the start of the county's appeal.

A striking tower was created in The Square in Eynsham High Street, made from 3,000 hand-crafted poppies.

The project was dreamt up by the WI's president Christine Batts but the entire community came together to help, knitting and crocheting poppies to donate.

WI members met weekly to sew the poppies onto mesh material, and got permission from Eynsham Parish Council to use the display to decorate an existing memorial.

Ann Wotherspoon said a crew from Eynsham Fire Station 'came to the rescue' by offering to install the display.

The Eynsham WI secretary, whose father died in the Second World War, added: "The sun was shining through the poppies and they looked absolutely beautiful.

"People need to be reminded of the horrors of what happened all that time ago.

"It's important, especially for youngsters, to realise we have that history."

Firefighters described the tribute as 'a magnificent and stunningly visual way to remember our fallen'.

In Abingdon the poppy appeal was launched in Market Place yesterday with PoppyFest, which saw poppy sellers old and young unite alongside veterans and members of the public.

The MG Car Club in Abingdon invited MG owners with red cars to decorate their vehicles with poppies and park in the square.

One MG owner had even adorned his car's bonnet with silhouettes of soldiers.

Clare Oldfield, the town's poppy appeal organiser, said Sea Cadets and Army Cadets persevered despite the cold to raise £2,000 at the launch.

She said: "This is an important year of course, and we are only one generation away from forgetting.

"Abingdon really takes the poppy to heart - people are quite happy to hand over £20, £10 or £5 notes."

Sergeant instructor Kate Clifton, of the Abingdon Army Cadets detachment, said she was proud of all the cadets for their support.

Many services will take place across Oxfordshire on Armistice Day, with bell ringing and beacon lighting.

Oxford Service of Remembrance starts from 10am in St Giles', for the annual parade and wreath-laying.

See the Oxford Mail in the run-up to Armistice Day for a full wrap-up of events, or visit armistice100.org.uk.