A couple have transformed their front garden into a Great War memorial.

Kathy Taylor and Mike Edwards, of Redbridge Lane West, Wanstead, originally erected the structure for the Art Trail in September, but have decided to keep it up until after Armistice Day.

The piece of art depicts a trench from the First World War made from sandbags and wood pallets, and the letters OTT, “Over the Top”, are placed above.

Around 250 poppies are already pinned to the structure, with charity Leading Our Lives and the local scout group donating handmade poppies.

The public is invited to add more.

Mr Edwards said: “The origins of sayings and phrases are very interesting and that is why we are playing on the phrase OTT, or over the top.

“The phrase is used in modern language as something extreme, but in the First World War it meant heading out of the trenches and risking your life.

“We have received a really great response from people living in the road and even passing schoolchildren, so it has become an educational piece too and has had a real community feel about it.”

The couple travelled to Flanders, in Belgium, in June this year and made the decision to erect the structure as a memorial to mark the centenary year of the outbreak of the Great War.

They were also influenced to find out more about their grandfathers’ experiences, and found that they were both involved in the 1916 Battle of the Somme, which led to 60,000 British soliders being killed on the first day of fighting.

Ms Taylor's grandfather, Harold Wilson, was 18-years-old when the war broke out and became an officer.

He was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous bravery in saving a man from No Man’s Land under enemy fire.

Mr Edwards's grandfather, Herbert Edwards, was also 18 when he signed up in May 1915.

He was in the 23rd Royal Fusiliers, 1st Sportsmans Battalion, and took part in the battle. but was sent home after suffering Trench Foot.

Ms Taylor said: “The trip inspired us to find out how our grandfathers were involved in the war because they never talked to us about it.

“When we found out they experienced the Battle of the Somme we understood why they wouldn’t have wanted to talk about it.”