An artist has completed wooden monuments which are playing a starring role in a special trail commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Den Humphrey, who runs engineering company Out Of Our Tree in Gosfield, has spent seven weeks fashioning and completing a serpentine oak bench, measuring 4ft in height and 25ft in length, as well as an additional black table and twin red benches to form a poppy.

The serpentine bench is decorated with poppies, hand-crafted for members of the public to buy in memory of family members who fought during the wars.

All of Mr Humphrey’s designs are featuring in the First World War trail at Bury St Edmonds, set up by the My WiSH charity. It features 18 pieces of artwork which went on display on Monday.

Mr Humphrey said: “In total the benches took me about seven weeks to produce and I’ve now got three pieces within the trail, one in a church and another in a restaurant.

“I was so proud of them when they were finished, and to have them featured in a trail celebrating 100 years since the end of one of the biggest wars of the world is fantastic as it’s such a milestone.”

The My WiSH charity helps patients get the best possible care at the West Suffolk Hospital.

The charity has organised the trail, and once it concludes it will auction off all of the items featured, in the hope of raising more than £500,000 for the cause.

In addition, for every one of the hand-crafted poppies sold from the serpentine bench, Mr Humphrey will make a donation to the Royal British Legion.

He added: “When the benches were all delivered I got a chance to see where they would be displayed and got to meet people who shared their stories of their friends and loved ones who fought in the war.

“It was really lovely to hear those stories and how much these items will mean for them. The poppies are selling well and the charity appears to be making good progress to reach their goal.”

To purchase a wooden poppy call 01284 712952 or email fundraising@wsh.nhs.uk.