School remembers fallen with plastic-bottle poppies

More than 300 poppies were made from the bases of plastic bottles that were then painted red

A primary school of 900 pupils has made poppies from plastic bottles to help them understand Armistice Day in an "age-appropriate way".

Children at St Matthew’s School in Luton, painted the bases of 330 plastic bottles red and turned them into an outdoor display.

Pupils performed music and poetry at events on Monday to remember those killed in wars.

"Today's reflection means a lot to their personal development," said assistant head teacher Adam Bell.

"I've done this for many years with the help of colleagues, as we try to replicate Flanders Field in the front of our garden.

"That then leads on to Remembrance and Armistice assemblies."

Assistant head teacher Adam Bell says making the poppies helps children to understand Armistice Day

Mr Bell said the poppies were "designed so children understand".

"We don’t shy from speaking to the children about what the events were historically," he said.

"They just need to understand - in an age-appropriate way - that there were lives lost due to power, greed, and animosity.

"But at the same time, it’s about understanding that even in the current climate today with wars going on now, that we respect each other regardless of where we’re from."

One pupil, James, 10, played Amazing Grace on the clarinet as part of the service.

"We wear poppies to represent the lives of the armed soldiers who fought and fell in war," he said.

"To me it means to respect and show that we care. Soldiers died so we could be in this position today."