A SPECTACULAR community art project to commemorate the war dead is launched this weekend.

Volunteers young and old from across Weymouth and Portland and beyond have spent countless hours making almost 100,000 poppies for an installation supporting the Royal British Legion.

The commemorative art piece produced in the centenary years of the First World War has been put together in phases with parts of the installation displayed in public over the last year.

The handmade poppies have been brought together in a display which includes aircraft, tanks, soldiers, crosses and trees.

It was inspired by the ceramic poppy display at the Tower of London in 2014, and a way of local craft group members continuing their support for the RBL.

Co-ordinated by the Let's Make It art group led by community development worker Julie Hursthouse, volunteers worked with artist Lesley Pitney on the project.

They secured Big Lottery Funding to help pay for transportation costs and materials.

Part of the installation was on display at the Tank Museum, Bovington, last year – now the full display can be enjoyed in the Mulberry Gallery at Weymouth Library from this Saturday.

It will be opened by the Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Kevin Brookes and will be on display until Friday, December 8. Cllr Brookes and his wife Anne, the mayoress, were both involved in the project as they helped to make the spitfire which is included in the installation.

Volunteers will go on making poppies which will be added to the installation for a final display in 2018.

Julie Hursthouse said the display has to be seen to be believed and she urged people to drop into the library over the next few weeks to have a look.

More than 450 people had been involved in the project and more than 96,000 poppies have been made at 70 workshops.

People from all over Dorset have got involved and there has been input from local youth groups, schools, Scouts, Beavers, and Guides, as well as adults with learning disabilities and older people in day centres and homes.

Mrs Hursthouse said the project had helped to improve people's skills and confidence, and had attracted a global audience with positive comments from people in many different countries.