Villagers are celebrating being given approval to create a new memorial to mark the 100 years since the start of the First World War.

Colne Engaine’s existing war memorial, an oak beam inscribed with a remembrance message, is currently hidden in the graveyard of St Andrew’s Church.

But Braintree Council this week granted permission for the memorial to become the centrepiece of a new structure at the village’s recreation ground, in Station Road.

Colne Engaine War Memorial Committee chairman Spike Townsend said: “We are abolutely delighted to get permission and we are now concentrating on our fundraising efforts.

“Everyone in the village is pulling together to give us support and the comments we have had are great.”

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