With Armistice Day coming up on Sunday, staff with knitting skills formed their own ‘knitting circle’ during their lunchtimes and have spent the past two weeks knitting 29 Poppies - one for each member of staff.

Their Poppies have been added to a huge display of 1200 knitted Poppies which now adorn the entrance doors to the nearby Grove Methodist Church at Horsforth, Leeds (see picture).

The Church decided to mark the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day this year by asking worshippers and members of the local community to knit and donate Poppies to highlight the entrance to the building and the sacrifice of British and Commonwealth soldiers.

Inspired by Armistice 100th anniversary and the church’s call for help, staff at Manse Capital, whose building dates back to 1780 and is part of the church grounds, decided to join the campaign. They gave up lunchtimes and other breaks to knit the Poppies and recently delivered them to the church which staff can see from their office.

Paul Everett, managing director of the firm and a former Army Officer, paid tribute to dedicated staff who had supported the local campaign.

He said: “The staff are to be applauded for giving up their own time, especially to mark the hundredth year of the Armistice.

“Horsforth is making a special effort this year to mark the centenary along with many other places around the country and given our strong relationship with the church it was nice to be able to help.”

Staff at Manse Capital have regularly supported local causes and raised money for charities including the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.