WAR memorials across North Ayrshire have undergone a makeover ahead of this year’s special Remembrance Day.

The Council’s Streetscene team has pulled out the stops to ensure North Ayrshire pays a fitting tribute as we mark 100 years since the end of World War One.

As well as the work on the war memorials, Poppy seeds were planted in bedding areas throughout North Ayrshire as part of the commemoration. Poppies are on display at Dalry War Memorial, Kilwinning Road Dalry, Kilbirnie Cross, Ness Gardens Saltcoats, Beith Cross, Cardiff Street Millport and Largs.

Following consultation with the local British Legion, a poppy fountain will be on display at various locations in the Three Towns including, Ardrossan South Beach, Ardrossan Glasgow Street, Saltcoats and Stevenston, while a memorial bench is being installed at Millport War Memorial.

The Streetscene team has also designed and constructed a new commemorative sign at Greenock Road, Largs.

Councillor Jim Montgomerie, Cabinet Member for Place, said: “The team has worked really hard to ensure everything is in place. Remembrance Day is always hugely emotional but this year promises to be even more poignant with it marking 100 years since the end of the First World War.

“The war memorials all look fantastic and the poppy bedding areas are another really nice touch.”

Seventeen memorials were refurbished in 2018. Work was completed on the Irvine War Memorial in 2015, Kilwinning Abbey was attended to in 2016 and Millport works were complete in 2017.

The Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund (CMRF) contributed to 75 per cent of the costs for Kilwinning Abbey, Millport and Ardrossan War Memorials with North Ayrshire Council contributing around £100,000 in total.

The works on the various memorials vary but generally included repatinating bronze, repainting lettering, cleaning structures and bases, repointing and replacing/reset of paving slabs to ensure they are all in great condition.