AS worshippers bow their heads in a Swindon church to remember the country’s war dead tomorrow, dozens of doves will fly above their heads to symbolise the hope for peace to end conflict.

The folded paper doves made by parishioners are hanging from the ceiling on threads in the 13th century St Margaret’s Church in Stratton St Margaret.

The church also has hundreds of knitted poppies on display for Remembrance Day tomorrow.

The Vicar Rev Vicky Fleming said she was overwhelmed by the response to the idea of knitting the poppies for this year’s commemoration.

She said: “It really took off. We had the idea of maybe having about 500 of them.

“But both men and women knitted them and we had about 1,500 in the end. It was a real surprise that we got so many. It really shows that people still very much want to remember the sacrifice of so many people in the wars.”

To go with the poppies, which tumble from a cross and cascade through the porch of the church, as the traditional symbol of remembrance, the doves symbolise the hope for peace and reconciliation.

Vicky said: “We came up with the idea of the doves as well as we wanted to pray for peace in our world as well as remembering the lives lost in wars.”

Parishioners joined Vicky in folding grey paper into origami doves.

“We also have 10 boards with the doves on which will be used at the civic remembrance service on Sunday afternoon.”

The poppies and doves will be at the centre of the church’s Remembrance Day service tomorrow.

There will be a parade and the service starts at 10.30am where wreaths will be laid at the parish war memorial, which is inside the church.

Other churches around Swindon have also been as creative in making displays to mark the 100 years since the signing of the armistice, which called to an end the 1914-18 war.

In Wanborough Anita Basevi planted 120 handmade poppies on the front bank of Wheelwrights in Kite Hill earlier this month - 100 poppies to signify the centenary and a red and white poppy for each of the men from the village killed in the conflict. The flowers will remain in situ until tomorrow morning but will then be installed in a display in St Andrews’ Church in time for tomorrow’s service.

In Rodbourne there is a cascade of 1,300 poppies made by Even Swindon Primary School pupils.