WOMEN’S Institute members in Wellington have unveiled their annual town centre knitted and crocheted poppy displays, which this year are larger than ever.

A cascade of poppies attached to the front of Wellington Conservative Club formed a High Street centrepiece of the displays.

Wellington town councillors and members of Wellington Royal British Legion attended the official unveiling of the displays on Tuesday (October 31).

More poppies were attached to railings at the front of The Mount and around the town centre crossroads, while further displays were put up in Monmouth Gardens and Wellington Park, including on the War Memorial.

New this year were displays of yellow poppies to signify the ‘Canary Girls’, who were women working in wartime munitions factories, so named because the chemicals used in making ammunition would turn their skin a yellowish colour.

The WI women, led by organiser Bridget Hodges, will also decorate Wellington’s Pop-Up Shop when the Royal British Legion branch takes it over on Monday (November 6).

The legion will be in the shop until Saturday, November 11, and collection stations are being manned in the foyers of the town supermarkets.

Wreaths will be on sale and anybody unable to attend the Field of Remembrance will be able to order a cross to be placed in it.

Legion branch secretary Scott Godwin said: “We would like to thank the members of Wellington Women’s Institute for all the hard work they put in to create these amazing displays, which truly do transform the town, park, and Pop-up Shop.”

Wellington Baptist Church minister the Rev Sam Griffiths who is the legion’s chaplain, will lead a dedication of a Field of Remembrance outside the church, in South Street, on Sunday (November 5) at 12 noon.

Last year, the poppy appeal in Wellington saw the branch raise more than £12,000, and anybody who would like to help with this year’s appeal should contact organisor Lyn Trickey on 07721 335076.