Pupils mark COVID lockdown anniversary with colourful display of remembrance

The youngsters at Woodston Primary School joined staff to tie yellow paper chains around trees at the school to remember all those who had lost their lives during the pandemic.

Staff took hours creating the mammoth paper chain to create the colourful tribute.

The idea came from head teacher Jacki Mitchell, who had seen an internet post about the idea.

A spokeswoman for the school said they had initially planned to use yellow ribbon - but the order did not arrive in time.

But rather than give up on the idea, school office staff spent more than four hours creating the 350 metres of paper chains.

Members of the school then went out on the school field at lunchtime on March 23 - a year since Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the lockdown - to tie the chains around the 88 trees on teh school grounds.

Teachers and pupils got involved in the special memorial.

Across the city others paid tribute to the victims of the pandemic in other ways, with many taking part in a doorstep vigil at 8pm on Tuesday night. Some shone torches or lit candles during the vigil.

There was also a period of silence at 12 noon on Tuesday, which was marked at Peterborough Cathedral, as the anniversary was declared a national day of reflection. Dean of Peterborough Chris Dalliston gave a short online service ahead of the minute silence at the Cathedral, while some gathered to take a moment in private prayer to remember the sacrifices people had made over the past 12 months.