Clarets fan creates unique poppy tribute in his garden to mark Remembrance Sunday

Passers-by have been stopping to admire the poppy display Alan Earnshaw made using rocks in the garden of his Guy Street home.

And when Denise Barrett took a photograph of the display and posted it on social media it drew over 500 comments and 'likes' from people.

Modest Alan, who is known affectionately as Ernie, said he wanted to do something special to mark Remembrance Sunday as people cannot observe it in the usual way due to coronavirus.

The poppy creation sits in front of a claret and blue bench Alan upcycled in honour of his favourite team.

Alan, who served in the Merchant Navy and will be 59 this month, said: "I always attend Remembrance Sunday and wear my poppy with pride and then have a drink with the old boys afterwards but none of that can happen this year.

"The poppy took me about a week to create it and it turned out better than I thought.

"I never expected a response like this though, I am really pleased that people like it."

Since it was posted on social media several people have gone to have a look at Alan's rock poppy and he intends to keep it in place for a while to give more admirers the chance to see it.