Cascade of 6,000 poppies hung at village church

The cascade has been made of about 6,000 knitted, felt or crochet poppies

A crimson cascade of about 6,000 poppies has been hung outside of a village church to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.

The knitted, felt or crochet poppies were sewn onto a net and rolled down the church of St Peter & St Paul in Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire, on Saturday.

Other parts of the village have also been adorned with poppy displays, including the homes of those who lost their lives during the two world wars.

Church warden Eileen Baglin-Jones said the "terrific village project" had brought the community together and had forged new friendships.

The project's organising committee said the project had struck "an unexpected chord".

"Frankly, just about everybody else in the village has had something to do with it. It's been wonderful," Ms Baglin-Jones said.

"A friend of ours lent us a large room, which became the poppy sewing room.

"Six people at a time could sit around the table and sew.

"The conversations have been extraordinary.

"It's good to have something to do with your hands when you're talking and they've been a lot of fun as well."

Eileen Baglin-Jones (right with the walking stick) said the cascade had been hauled from the ground up to the top of the church tower

She said the other church warden and "a little team of bell ringers" had come to haul the cascade from the ground up to the top of the church tower, where it was fastened to the flagpole.

"Then it comes all the way down the tower and spreads out on the grass beneath," Ms Baglin-Jones said.

"We think it was 75ft (22m) when we finished it, and it got wider as it came towards the bottom of it, so it really does look magnificent," she said.

Rector Harriet Orridge said it represented "a wonderful community effort in creating this stunning reminder of the effort and sacrifice made by many in bringing peace to the world 80 years ago".

Ms Baglin-Jones said the village was "very proud of its history".

"There are endless fascinating stories," she added.

Church rector Harriet Orridge said the cascade represented "a wonderful community effort"