Knitted soldier at hospital for Remembrance

Syston Knitting Banxy was commissioned by the hospital to produce the figures

A life-sized knitted soldier, accompanied by a dog, is the latest creation from an enigmatic artist in a Leicestershire town.

Syston Knitting Banxy (SKB) keeps her identity secret but is well known for producing postbox toppers celebrating personalities and events.

Now - inspired by the story of a Loughborough man - she has made the figures to mark Remembrance Day.

They will occupy a bench in the Glenfield Hospital garden area and it is planned they will return each year.

The figure of a dog echoes the story of a local soldier who was followed by a dog in the trenches

Fiona Henry, a spokesperson for SKB, explained how the artist found the story of Pte Ball who had been followed around by a dog in the trenches.

Ms Henry said: "Pte Ball survived the war but unfortunately the dog did not.

"When he returned to Loughborough, he got married and as he came out of the church, there was this little terrier sat waiting for him.

"So it's a very poignant story, which has a mostly happy ending.

"And it is a beautiful way to remember those who served so we can have our freedom."

Ms Henry confirmed the work had taken a total of about 600 hours.

'Full circle'

Karen Jones, from the hospital trust, said: "People are just in awe of this, the figures and the detail.

"And it has extra significance because right after the First World War, the mayor of Leicester raised funds to buy Glenfield house.

"It was converted into a convalescent home for soldiers suffering from shellshock.

"We have photos of these men getting that respite, that time to recover.

"So we have come full circle with these figures in the garden."

Ms Jones confirmed after Remembrance commemorations, the soldier will be taken inside and put into storage, ready for next year.