Knitted poppies from Little Downham worn by French community group

Poppies knitted by a stalwart member of the Little Downham book club were transported overseas to be proudly worn by a similar group in France.

Audrey Glover, 86, a stalwart of the Little Downham Book Cafe handed over the poppies to her son Stephen, 62, who is now living in Vitry-sur-Seine near Paris.

Audrey had knitted the poppies in commemoration of 100 years since the end of the First World War – but little did she know where they would end up.

A book club that Stephen attends in Vitry-sur-Seine proudly wore their poppies – the French term known as coquelicot - for an event on the afternoon of Armistice Day.

Various texts about First World War were read out during the week-long festival.

The French use a different flower, the cornflower (bleuet), but were fascinated to hear the story of how the poppy became the symbol of renewal and was used to raise money for the British Legion.

Audrey has knitted hundreds of the flowers as part of Little Downham’s effort to produce as impressive a display as possible.

The group is pictured with their poppies and Stephen, who is a former cycling correspondent of the Ely Standard.