THOUSANDS of fabric poppy petals have been painstakingly sewn together to create a dress to raise awareness of this year's Royal British Legion poppy appeal among young people.

Alexandra Lord, from Launton, near Bicester, spent 30 hours sewing 400 poppies with more than 2,000 individual petals onto the dress, which she also designed.

The award-winning photographer, who is best known for maternity, newborn and child portraits, said: "It was hard work but I have used things like music sheets to create a dress before so I at least had a bit of experience working with unusual items."

She added: "I think it is so important that we remember the sacrifices made or we run the risk of history repeating itself. In recent years I do believe there is a risk of that happening and so I wanted to do something to raise awareness, especially among young people."

To help achieve this, the dress was modelled by Bicester teenager Millie Hughes, 15, for a series of images, some of which also included Alfie Howes Woods, who is an RAF cadet and 16-years-old.

Ms Lord said: "I didn't want models who were older because so many of those affected where 16/17 when this happened.

"It also helps young people identify with them as well."

In the background of the joint image of the pair are names of local soldiers who died in the First World War.

The photographer said: "I went to Launton's village memorial and took the names from there. It was so sad because you can see many of the soldiers had the same surnames and had clearly come from the same families.

"My family has been very lucky, so it isn't a personal cause for me but at the same time it is something I feel passionately about."

Ms Lord has shared the images on social media, where they have been liked and shared hundreds of times.To see all the images search Alexandra Lord Photography on Facebook.

Remembrance services will take place throughout the county on Sunday, with this year even more significant as it marks the centenary of the end of First World War.