MORE than 1,000 schoolchildren paid their respects to a town's war dead by forming the biggest human poppy seen in Blackburn.

Holding black and red cards aloft, children and staff at Witton Park Academy in Buncer Lane took formation and stood silently for two minutes to mark the end of the First World War.

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They were watched by councillors and staff from Blackburn with Darwen Council - and even Blackburn Rovers defender Alex Baptiste.

The special memorial was organised by history teacher Laura Elliott, who wanted to do something different to mark the event, made more poignant by this being the 100th anniversary of Britain's entry into the war in 1914.

Mrs Elliott said: "There were almost 1,200 of us and it was fantastic. I am so proud of the children.

"We wanted to do something special and so did Blackburn with Darwen Council so we all came together for this.

"I have been working with my year eight group looking at soldiers from the local area and there were 123 names of soldiers from Blackburn written on the cards, which we thought was a nice little touch.

"It was just brilliant to stand as one group to show our respect to those men and women."

Mrs Elliott said the pupils had enjoyed learning about the war in recent classes.

She said: "We brought it home by looking at soldiers from our area, including the gardener from the Witton Park Estate who went out to fight.

"It brought it home to the children that the First World War was not just in France and Belgium, but it was right here as well.

"We are so proud of them and they made it so special."

Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Coun Kate Hollern said: “Remembering the First World War in ways which inspire creativity and ensure that younger generations learn about the horrors of this terrible conflict is one of the most important steps in ensuring that this dark time in our history is never forgotten.”