More than 5,600 knitted and crocheted poppies adorn The Royal British Legion in Surbiton.

The poppies have been made by over 40 women who will be gathering at the building in Hollyfield Road on Sunday to view their handiwork and to enjoy a celebratory afternoon tea.

Along with the poppies made to mark Remembrance Day (Nov 11) and Remembrance Sunday (Nov 14), there are also 885 name tags tied to the railings of those from the area serving in the armed forces who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars.

“There are 2,000 poppies on the railings and over 3,000 on the wall. The purple ones are for the animals who died in the war to remember them too – the pigeons, the dogs, the horses, any animal you can think of,” said Denise Corbett, pictured.

A trustee of the Surbiton Royal British Legion Youth Marching Band, Denise thought up the idea and was the driving force behind the project which began in May. She was overwhelmed by the number of people who wanted to be involved, and the public response to the display.

“The reaction has been really good, really positive. So many people have made so many lovely comments. It has just been brilliant. We didn’t really know when we did it how it was going to work but it has been lovely. It has surprised us too.”

The poppies will be sold after Remembrance Sunday to raise funds for the armed services community.

Denise said there was also the opportunity for members of the public to learn how to knit or crochet at the legion’s knitting and crochet club which meets every second Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm. All welcome.