A COMMUNITY has rallied around ahead of Remembrance Day to replace several supersized poppies which were reportedly stolen from the roadside in Astley Bridge.

This year poppies have been installed along railings throughout the area to remember those who’ve lost their lives in conflicts around the world.

The commemorative flowers had gone up at the start of the week, however, on Wednesday night four of the poppies were taken.

Two were removed from Bar Lane and two more were taken from the railings at High Lawn Primary School.

All the money raised by the poppies, which cost £5 to sponsor, goes directly to the Royal British Legion.

Cllr Hilary Fairclough said: “It’s very disappointing that this happened.

“They were deliberately taken. It makes no sense, it’s very disrespectful and shocking.

“This year we were unable to put them up on lamp-posts so we decided to put them up on railings along the roadside.

“They’re all down Blackburn Road, outside High Lawn School, we’ve put them all over.

“But unfortunately four of them were stolen, we know they can’t have blown off as they are securely attached to the railings with cable ties.

“I have no doubt that whoever did this does not have any idea of the importance of the Remembrance Day, and that’s rather sad.”

However, after Cllr Fairclough shared news of the incident on social media she was flooded with offers to replace the poppies.

She added: “But since then I’ve had a number of people contact me to ask if they could donate to have the poppies replaced.

“We’ve already put up the new poppies and that’s the heartwarming thing - people are always happy to put things right.

“It costs £5 to sponsor a poppy and we’re very lucky that we have Astley Electrical Supplies, who’ve donated around 500 cable ties to help us secure the poppies, because of how grateful they are for what people have done for us," she added.

“We put up around 200 poppies across the area, we even have some purple ones which are to remember the animals who’ve given their lives.

“It’s a very special day and it’s important to mark it in any way we can.”

As traditional memorial services and parades are unable to take place this year due to coronavirus, Remembrance Day is being marked in different ways

Across the borough poppies are being painted on roads alongside the words ‘Lest We Forget’.

Residents are also encouraged to take part in a two-minute silence on their doorsteps on Sunday, November 8, at 11am.