AN ambitious bid to create 35,000 knitted poppies to mark the end of the First World War has been boosted by a local law firm.

Newtons Solicitors in Ripon hosted an evening with 20 people from local businesses, from gift shops to butchers, architects an d estate agents, to get knitting for the local initiative.

The poppies will line the parade route through the city from Spa Gardens to the cathedral to commemorate the centenary of the end of the Great War.

A band of knitters – right across Ripon – is hard at work and the initiative is gathering support from the community.

Newtons is an official distributor of the wool. People can pick up their supply of wool from their office on Kirkgate and drop off their finished poppies too.

“We’ve had a fantastic response from local businesses to the invitation to our first knitting event,” said legal secretary Christine Langthorp. “We’re keen to help local businesses work together, as the whole community prepares for the Remembrance commemorations.”