THE county’s village of the year is to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Messing is marking the anniversary with a lifesize ‘Tommy’ soldier figure and knitted poppies.

The Tommy is already outside All Saints’ Church and there will be a sea of poppies over the war memorial.

Knitter Anne Wild said: “It is planned to put this up on November 6, together with an arch of poppies over the church door nearby.

“Our target was to knit a poppy for each day the First World War lasted – 1,567 – which we’ve achieved.

“We have also knitted one for every child in Messing Primary School and a special service will be held for them in church on Monday, November 12."