Residents have been urged to visit a garden of remembrance and plant memorial crosses in support of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

Lowestoft Journal: The poppy appeal crosses can be bought from the Lowestoft War Museum.The poppy appeal crosses can be bought from the Lowestoft War Museum. (Image: (C) Archant 2015)

For the first time, The Lowestoft War Museum in Sparrow's Nest Gardens is hoping that visitors will purchase the crosses, along with the traditional poppies, in remembrance of people who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars.

The crosses, which can be purchased for a small donation, can include personalised messages and be planted in the Jack Rose memorial garden.

A number of schools in the area are also taking part in the initiative, by designing their own crosses which will culminate in them planting their creations at a remembrance service at 11am on Wednesday, November 11.

Over 70 students are expected to attend the service, which will also include poetry and readings.

Robert Jarvis, museum curator has already planted two crosses in memory of his family members.

'It is the first time we have done this as normally we wouldn't be open during the remembrance period,' he explained.

'A lot of people are buying the crosses and waiting for the memorial service where they will plant them along with the schools that have made their own crosses.

'This is a living war memorial- not only you have the names of people who have died but you also have their photographs, artefacts and their uniforms so it kind of tells the story more than a marble monument would.

'It important to commemorate the two wars and now is the best time to do that, because it is active in people's memories.'

Earlier in the year, the Journal reported that the museum was in urgent need of volunteers to keep running. While that still remains the case, Kirstie Bullard of north Lowestoft read our article and was keen to offer her help.

'My husband was with the forces but he got discharged when they were doing the redundancies,' she said.

'We saw the article in the paper and so we thought instead of it closing down, I offered to help out.

'I help two days a week at the moment but if we can get some more volunteers in we are hoping to open even more.'

The museum is currently open on Wednesday's from 12pm to 2pm and Friday's and Sunday's from 12pm until 4pm.

If your school or group is interested in visiting the memorial garden, or for more information email: warmemorialmuseum@btinternet.com