Giant poppy carved on hillside on Fovant Down

A giant poppy has been carved into a hillside in Wiltshire - a century after the first emblem was created by soldiers at the site.

The Flanders Poppy sits alongside eight other regimental badges and measures 25m (82ft) in diameter, making it visible from miles around.

The poppy is the first chalk badge to be carved at the site on Fovant Down near Salisbury since 1970.

The earliest badges were carved in 1916 by First World War soldiers based at a nearby military camp waiting to be deployed to France.

Around 20 badges were originally displayed but now eight - now classed as war memorials - remain.

Richard Bullard, of The Fovant Badges Society which looks after the site, said: "The poppy is an image that we all relate to and understand, and we are sure that those soldiers stationed at Fovant 100 years ago would have understood and applauded our desire to follow their example and build a chalk badge on Fovant Down."

Volunteers and serving soldiers created the new addition over three weeks in July.

The Royal British Legion's community fundraiser for Wiltshire, Fi Dobson, said: "We are eternally grateful to The Fovant Badges Society for their time and effort, helping us to create such a wonderful symbol of Remembrance.

"The poppy will act as a timeless and poignant reminder of the sacrifice made by our Armed Forces both past and present and their families."

The badge will be unveiled on 28 October when the 243 (Wessex) Field Hospital rolls up a camouflage and reveals the poppy for the first time.

The Royal British Legion's Jump4Heroes team will parachute from a plane to land in front of the poppy.

Some 350,000 collectors will distribute more than 45 million poppies during this year's Poppy Appeal.

The Royal British Legion has been able to answer more than 780,000 requests for help from the Armed Forces community thanks to the public's support last year.