REMEMBRANCE Day might look a little different this year due to coronavirus restrictions but one Tranent funeral parlour is holding a competition to not only keep the spirit of the day alive but pass on its meaning to youngsters.

Staff at The Co-operative Funeralcare shop on High Street are encouraging children to paint stones with an image of a poppy.

The stones should then be placed at a local war memorial or grave to pay tribute to those who fought and died for their country.

People can take a picture of their painted stone and send it to the parlour, with the best image receiving a prize.

The idea to run the competition stemmed from a post on social media by a woman who paints stones, and funeral director Lee Stewart contacting her to ask if she would paint some with poppies on them.

A comment from a man who also paints stones added that, as public displays and parades were banned this year, it would be great if people would paint a stone with a poppy for Remembrance Day.

The funeral parlour usually has a window display but is unable to this year, and staff there were inspired by both this idea and the stone snake that appeared on Edinburgh Road, between Prestonpans and Cockenzie, and Tranent’s Windygoul Worm.

Lee is encouraging as many people to take part as possible and is also contacting schools throughout the county, inviting them to join in.

She added: “It means then that schools in each part of the county can go and place stones on war graves at the cemetery.

“It’s all a bit doom and gloom at the moment and everybody responded amazingly to the NHS but we need to remember this too.

“It will also make kids aware of what Remembrance Day is and what it’s for, keeping it alive for years to come.

“We will still be laying a wreath but it will be nice to see kids actually taking part in this.”

The competition will run up until Remembrance Day, and images can be sent via email to tranent@letco-operative.com or via facebook.com/CoopFuneralcareTranent