CCTV installed to help protect display of 2,000 poppies at St Matthew’s Church in Sutton Bridge

CCTV has been installed to help prevent further vandalism at a church - which is now decorated with more than 2,000 knitted poppies to mark Remembrance Day.

Two metal soldier silhouettes, known as Tommies, which stand either side of the Lest We Forget sign in the grounds of St Matthew’s Church in Sutton Bridge were damaged last month.

Officials have now had CCTV installed to help prevent further attacks at the church, which is honouring those who had made the ultimate sacrifice.

Kevin Wheeler, church warden. said: “It is necessary to have the CCTV because of the vandalism to the Tommies.”

A group of 20 parishioners have knitted, crocheted and made felt poppies which are attached to netting and displayed next to the war memorial at the entrance to the church.

He said: “It took months although it feels like years, attaching poppies last week. and the cameras should help protect it.

“It has taken five people at least 10 days to pin them all on.”

Chris Fletcher, church warden, designed the display along with help from Pam Decara, Viv Davies and Mary Cousins who started preparations in the summer.

She said: “Loads of people have knitted more than 2,000 poppies and we'd like to thank them all.”

The church has an affiliation to the RAF and the churchyard contains three Commonwealth burials from World War I and 54 from World War II.

There are also war graves of other nationalities to remember fallen pilots who are buried at the RAF war memorial in the graveyard.

Pam added: “This Remembrance Sunday marks 80 years since D-Day.

“It is important. Lest We Forget.”

There will be a service on Remembrance Sunday (November 10) which will include a two-minute silence.

An autumn fair to raise funds for the church will be happening on Saturday, November 9, from 10am.

Anyone with information regarding who is responsible for the damage are encouraged to come forward and contact the force control room on 101, quoting incident number 132.

For further details of events happening at the church go to the St Matthew’s Sutton Bridge Facebook page.

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