YOUNGSTERS from across Andover have joined forces to help the town’s shopping centre commemorate the First World War.

Children from six schools have been participating in the outreach project as part of the “tWW1tter” campaign organised by The Chantry Centre to mark the 100th anniversary of the conflict.

Costumed actors, playing the part of soldiers in active service during the war, taught the pupils about the important role pigeons played in the conflict and explained how messages were attached to them as a means of vital communication.

The team of youngsters, which included representatives from Andover C of E Primary School, Vigo Junior School and Portway Junior School, also learned about the local men and women who had fought in the war and were remembered on the Andover War Memorial.

The group, which was completed by pupils from Norman Gate School, Icknield School and Smanell and Enham C of E Primary School, were then given the chance to get creative and design their own medal dedicated to one of those servicemen who lost their lives in battle.

The medal design will be displayed in Chantry Court Garden within the centre, as part of a temporary garden of remembrance.

Steve Cotney, manager of The Chantry Centre, said: “The outreach project was very well received and we had some lovely feedback from the schools. The children from Norman Gate enjoyed it so much they wanted to send the actors a ‘thank you’ card and Portway School said that the activity made the children think about the war in a way that they had not done before.”

All of the children involved in the project will now be invited to The Chantry Centre at 11am on Tuesday, November 11, when the centre will hold a moving ceremony for one generation to remember the sacrifices made by another.