THE answer for Royal Wootton Bassett’s Forever poppy replacement might have been found but it’s going to be costly.

The marble sculpture, put up to commemorate 355 military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and repatriated through the town, collapsed in October 2017.

Now a campaign has got under way to raise almost £300,000 to commission and cast a bronze replacement.

A committee of volunteers has been formed and a design by sculptor Stephen Pettifer chosen.

And among the first to get involved in raising the money are the town’s schools. Committee member Tom Patterson and his son Ben went to them with the idea of staging non-uniform days, starting with St Bartholomew’s.

Tom said: “It was my son’s idea to approach the school in order to raise funds, it’s quite cool that he wanted to do that really.

“He’s listened to me talk about wanting to raise money for it and I think that’s why he wanted to do it.”

Ben, 10, held an assembly asking his classmates to help raise the funds. He said: “Everyone was really happy with my idea and wanted to help. Ever since I heard it was going to be recreated I thought that would be a good idea and I wanted to help out.

“I thought this way it was a good way to get everyone involved. I like the fact that it was a cool memorial and the history is what makes this town royal.”

St Bartholomew’s, Noremarsh Junior School and Longleaze Primary School have all agreed to let the students wear what they want for the cause.

Dan Oakes, head of St Bartholomew’s said: “We were delighted to take part in raising money for this worthwhile cause. The Forever poppy was such a symbol of community pride and togetherness that the children were keen to help in anyway they could to have it replaced. As a school we came up with the idea of a ‘field of poppies day’ - where children and adults could come to school dressed in green and red, giving a donation to support the appeal.

“It’s great to see that this has gathered momentum and now other schools in the community are running similar fund raising days.”

The committee formed by Tom is aiming to raise £294,000 for the bronze sculpture to be built and put on the empty plinth at the end of Marlowe Way.

A Go Fund Me appeal has been launched. To to find out more about the appeal visit royalwoottonbassettpoppy.co.uk