Emotive poppy displays created by young artists to demonstrate their support for our war heroes have been seen across Cumbria.

Pupils and students from Cumbria Education Trust schools were challenged to put their artistic efforts into Poppies in Your Window, Remembrance and Armistice Day displays to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

More than 100 window displays were created in homes across the county.

Display organiser Nic Tweddle, director of learning for Year 7 at Workington Academy, said: “We invited students and pupils to create a design to represent hope and a show of support to honour those who sacrificed themselves to secure and protect our freedom.

“We felt it important to have a high focus on Remembrance Day this year, in particular given the restrictions on community Remembrance parades and events that could not take place due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The engagement from children and their families across all of our CET community has been excellent. We are incredibly proud of the effort, time and thought of our students and pupils in creating such poignant designs.”

Displays have been collated into a video which can be seen on Cumbria Education Trust’s YouTube channel. Prizes and certificates were awarded to a winner from each CET school.

The overall winner was Murphy Grisedale-Stairs, a Year 6 pupil at Caldew Lea Primary School in Carlisle. Judges praised his display for its “thoughtful lighting with consideration to all branches of the armed services and the parts that animals play in armed combat.”

He said: “I had talked with my mum about all the Remembrance ceremonies not being the same as normal because of coronavirus. So I felt it was right that we showed our respect.”

A combined display from Caldew Lea was also highly commended.

Headteacher Ayesha Weston said: “We are so proud of the children and their thoughtfulness for others at this time of year. They have put so much creativity and care into what they produced, it’s been wonderful to see all their displays.”

Sue Kaveney, branch welfare chair, Carlisle and Stanwix Branch of the Royal British Legion, said: “It is fabulous to see the younger children and communities remembering our fallen and current service men and women, especially in this very difficult year.

“It is vital that we, as a nation, continue to remember and support so this initiative has been fabulous and everyone who took part should be congratulated – especially Murphy for his display.

"On behalf of everyone we support – thank you."

Winners were: Workington Academy, Harvey Park, Year 7; The Whitehaven Academy, Oscar Chambers, Year 7; William Howard School, Brampton, Emilia Atlinski, Year 7; Longtown Primary, Finn McDerby, Year 2; Yewdale Primary, Seth Picken, Year 3; Hensingham Primary, Abdallah Sa’id, Year 3; Yanwath Primary, Anya Brough, Year 1 and Newtown Primary, Eve Pattison, Year 4.