One hundred silk poppies have cropped up on two bushes at the St Peter’s Street war memorial in preparation for this Sunday’s Remembrance Day service in St Albans.

The poppies are a mark of remembrance, and particularly poignant as this is the centenary year of the outbreak of WWI.

Local residents have been invited to join the Mayors of St Albans and Harpenden on Remembrance Sunday, November 9, for this year’s ceremony.

Don Dell, chairman of the St Albans branch of the Royal British Legion, said: “This year’s Remembrance Day parade and service will honour the British service personnel who have given their lives, or are living with the effects of war.”

He added that the legion was founded by veterans of the First World War who adopted the poppy as their symbol of remembrance and hope.

Members of the organisation will gather with St Albans Mayor, Cllr Geoff Harrison, for the start of the parade near Marks & Spencer at 10.30am, in preparation for the 10.50am service at the monument.

Cllr Harrison said: “I hope as many people as possible join us for the service. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who have given their lives for this country.”

And in Harpenden, the Town Mayor Cllr Mary Maynard will attend the Remembrance service at the war memorial from 10.50-11.20am.

This year’s Poppy Appeal ends on Armistice Day, on Tuesday, November 11.