An artist has defied the heatwave to complete work on a memorial bench set to feature in a First World War trail.

Den Humphrey’s monument will be accompanied by several other pieces of his work which will form part of a trail in the Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds later this month.

The trail is being set up in aid of the My WiSH Charity, which hopes to raise £500,000 to pay for a new cardiac centre at the West Suffolk Hospital.

Mr Humphrey, who runs Out of Our Tree in Gosfield, has been working on the bench entirely by himself over the past three weeks and has now completed the structure.

He plans to cover the bench in wooden poppies which have been personally ordered by families and relatives of soldiers who fought in the First World War.

He said: “I’m still making the poppies.

“I’ve made about 50 so far but still got a lot more to make.

“I reckon once everything is done I’ll have made something like 150.

“The bench is definitely my biggest project so far. It ways a tonne.

“There’s 20 sleepers, each 8ft long, in there.

“It’s been a killer for me, especially in the heat but it’ll be worth it when its set up in the gardens. It’ll look spectacular.”

The bench will be installed in the Abbey Gardens on Wednesday, July 18 and officially on display as of Monday, July 23.

Anyone wishing to order a poppy in remembrance of a loved one or friend who served during the war should call 01284 712952 or email fundraising@wsh.nhs.uk.

Proceeds raised from the poppies will go to the Royal British Legion.