Cambridgeshire village post box gets 'poignant' topper

People are stopping to photograph the post box in Newton, Cambridgeshire

An unusual tribute to the fallen has appeared on a village post box.

A circle of knitted poppies sits atop the post box in the village of Newton, near Cambridge.

Lying on the poppies are discarded soldier's boots and a helmet, all made out of wool.

The principal knitter, Lou Peden, said she found the image to be moving and was glad other people felt the same as the country prepares to mark Remembrance Sunday.

Ms Peden's work has adorned the post box before. She created a knitted Charles and Camilla for the coronation, and made a nurse from wool to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NHS.

Lou Peden's NHS topper used a knitted version of her daughter, who is a nurse

She said: "For Remembrance, I wanted to create a more poignant image so I opted for knitting a set of discarded soldiers boots and helmet in a poppy field."

Seven more local knitters have contributed to the topper, and more poppies are still arriving to be added to the display.

Ms Peden added: "I used a pattern for the boots which was created by a very 'clever yarn bomber' known as Syston Knitting Banxy so I should credit them for the pattern really."

Lou Peden's topper for the coronation

Ms Peden began yarn bombing - a type of "street art" that uses knitted or crocheted yarn - when the village needed cheering up during a difficult time.

She said: "The creation of postbox toppers started to really grown in popularity in the pandemic with crafters sharing knitted - and crocheted - joy in their communities. I've been hooked ever since I saw my first one in Ely last summer."

"I find our Remembrance topper a moving image and I'm delighted that its evoking a similar response in others."