CHILDREN played a key role in the annual Remembrance service at the newly created Wincham War Memorial on Sunday.

Names of the village's 24 war heroes were read out and one by one a child planted a cross in a poppy bed in their honour.

Pupils Finn Latham and Ellie Sharman who won a competition read out their poems.

Schoolchildren joined uniformed youth groups and villagers to lay wreaths.

Northwich Guardian:

Children joined villagers, veterans, community groups and uniformed youth organisations to lay wreaths

Cllr Ian Parr, chairman of Wincham Parish Council welcomed villagers to the service.

Northwich Guardian:

Cllr Ian Parr, chairman of Wincham Parish Council welcomes villagers to the Remembrance Sunday service

Cllr Debs May read an opening prayer and led the laying of the wreaths.

Northwich Guardian:

Villagers pay tribute to Wincham's 24 war heroes

Cllr Caroline Powell and local historian Michael Watts lay a wreath on behalf of The Queen, parish council chairman Cllr Ian Parr and Cllr Debra Kelly paid tribute on behalf of the Government.

Parish Cllrs Kenton Barker and Andrew Webster laid a wreath on behalf of the parish council.

Air cadets Turner and Roberts from 146 Squadron remembered fallen servicemen and women.

Northwich Guardian:

Wreaths were laid by villagers, community groups, veterans and uniformed youth organisations

Ian May and Erica Burgess honoured villagers who lost their lives in war and conflicts.

Lorraine Turner and Pam French from Pickmere & District WI laid wreaths.

Air cadets Roberts and Davenport paid tribute to fallen members of the Mercian Regiment.

Various members of the community and honoured guests also laid wreaths and poppies.

Local author Helen Morgan read The Exhortation.

Flautist Cerys May played the National Anthem.

Northwich Guardian:

Air cadets honour fallen heroes

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The memorial was created thanks to a colossal effort by dedicated villagers to honour 24 service men from the village who lost their lives fighting for their country.

The Friends of Linnards Lane Memorial, a community-supported group, was formed in 2016 after Wincham Parish Council discovered they were forbidden by law to create a war memorial.

A small team of residents have worked tirelessly on the planning, design, creation and fundraising of the war memorial after it was confirmed that people of the parish could build a memorial.

Donations were received from several companies and many private donors.

Manchester Airport awarded a £3,000 grant from their community fund.

Sculptor Keith Carter Harris engraved the names of servicemen who died in the First World War and the Second World War.

A memorial garden filled with fragrant flowers is tended by volunteers.