COMMUNITY stalwarts from Saddleworth Women's Institute put their best foot forward to help the Royal British Legion who have been struggling for funds because of Covid-19 restrictions.

The Legion set up a novel 11/11 challenge asking the nation to raise funds to help serving and ex-serving personnel and their families.

And to complement the initiative, Saddleworth WI's Walking Group came up with a "Memorial Walking Challenge" identifying more than 11 memorials to visit either as part of small WI walking groups or individuals in household bubbles. And they braved the elements to ensure they visited as many as possible.

These included Silent Soldiers at Dobcross, Denshaw and Grotton, Commonwealth War Graves at Friezland Church and Lydgate Church, War Memorials in Uppermill, Austerlands, Waterhead, Lees cemetery and Stalybridge, war graves at the Independent Churchyard in Delph and the iconic Pots and Pans cenotaph.

Their aim is to visit as many memorials as possible, ideally wearing poppies and taking photographs at the various places of interest to be posted on social media and Saddleworth WI website.

A spokesperson said: “Members have been encouraged to donate or sponsor those who are walking, then join the nation for a two minute silence on 11/11 knowing they’ve made a difference to those who need our help today.

“There is no walk to Pots and Pans and Remembrance Day service for the public this year. However we have purchased a poppy wreath from Royal British Legion and will lay this on the memorial in Uppermill Gardens.”

“Walks already completed have included a Stalybridge war memorial walk and a six mile Lydgate, Grotton, Austerlands, Waterhead and Lees War Memorials circular.

“A longer walk to take in the memorials and war graves at Friezland, Uppermill, Dobcross, Delph and St Chads is planned for Remembrance Sunday, but new lockdown may mean this has to be done by members walking as individuals.”

For independent walkers, fdetails of the walks can be printed from the walking group page on the website: www.saddleworthwi.com

Members not walking are participating in other 11/11 challenges to help support the appeal - creating a collage of 11 photographs connected to Remembrance Day, posting them on social media and donating a sum of money for each "like" received or wearing red for 11 days.