OLD school uniforms have been put to good use at one York primary school.

Children at Dringhouses School marked the centenary of the end of the Great War by recycling school uniforms to create a montage.

Pupils from every class in the school, from Reception to Year 6, helped to create a gigantic memorial banner by cutting up old red sweatshirts, cardigans and t-shirts to make individual poppies to form wreaths for a striking montage to honour fallen soldiers from the local community. The idea came from parent Emma Fletcher, and the banner is on display at school.

Mrs Fletcher, who has two children at Dringhouses is a member of the Friends of Dringhouses School, and organised the poppy-making sessions and assembled the separate elements of the banner.

As well as 10 poppy wreaths, the montage includes white crosses on which are inscribed the names of fallen soldiers from the memorial at St Edward’s Church on Tadcaster Road, to represent the huge loss to the community.

As well as providing a focus for the school to commemorate the remembrance centenary, the project also raised funds for the Royal British Legion, with both the school and church communities invited to sponsor poppies and to add names of family members who were lost in the war.

Mrs Fletcher said: “I have wanted to create a commemorative remembrance display of some kind for some time now.

“This year’s centenary felt like the perfect time to make something special and to involve the local community. During the poppy-making sessions the children were told about the history of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance, and about the work of the Royal British Legion, so that they understood the significance of the project. I am delighted with the result and feel it is a fitting tribute to all those who have lost their lives for our country."

On Friday, November 9 the banner it will go on display at St Edward’s Church over remembrance weekend before being included in the First World War display at Dringhouses Library.