THERE'S a new look for two war memorials which have undergone improvements to coincide with Remembrance Sunday and the centenary of World War One.

A newly restored memorial now features at St Mary's Church, Hawkshaw, while poignant steel 3D poppies have been added to the war memorial in Greenmount.

More than 180 worshippers attended the unveiling of the restored memorial at the Hawkshaw church. These included relatives of some of the soldiers whose names it bears.

The unveiling ceremony was conducted by Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Paul Horrocks. Some of his relatives who died in the Great War are among the names on the memorial.

Hawkshaw sent 167 men to the conflict, 40 of whom died in service, including best friends Andrew Bridge and Robert Young. They joined up together at Ramsbottom Drill Hall in January 1915 and stood next to each other as they enlisted

However, Andrew was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and Robert died on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele a year later.

Speaking about Sunday's unveiling of the restored and re-lettered memorial, the Rev Paul Sumsion said: "We had a really good mix of people who attended, people within the village and much further afield. Around 180 took part and it was a great event. A few of those were relatives of soldiers named on the war memorial.

Meanwhile, the distinctive steel 3D poppies are an eye-catching and poignant addition to Greenmount's war memorial.

A service to coincide with Armistice Day on Tuesday included a dedication to the improvements to the memorial.The ornamental poppies were designed by Greenmount-based blacksmith Sally Victoria Fraser and commissioned especially to mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One.

Among those attending Tuesday's ceremony was D-Day veteran, 94-year-old Neville Foot and Major Rob Macdonald of the Army Cadet Force, Holcombe.

Alistair Waddell, chairman of the Greenmount Community Group, said: "The improvements made to the war memorial really enhances it and makes it more magnificent. Work was carried out over four months and finished this week."