PLANS have been drawn up for a permanent memorial to those who lost their lives in the Battle of the Somme, in Heaton Park.
The unique curved memorial will carry more than 320 porcelain 'memory tiles' created from thousands of tributes submitted for centenary commemorations, to those involved in or affected by the battle.
It is hoped that the memorial will be in place by November.
During the war Heaton Park acted as a training ground for army recruits including from the Manchester Regiment, and later as a military hospital.
The five month battle, which took place from July 1, 1916, was one of the bloodiest ever fought by the British, with the first day being the worst in the army's history costing 57,470 casualties.
Manchester City Councillor Luthfur Rahman, executive member for schools, culture and leisure, said: "The memorial in the park will be a fitting and permanent tribute to those who died and will ensure their stories and our memory of them are never forgotten."
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