A BASINGSTOKE mother has spent more than 1,000 hours knitting panels for a very special D-Day project.
Jenny Shepperd has been taking part in The Longest Yarn, alongside her friend Diana Peacock.
The project sees a range of people knitting and crocheting 'The Longest Day' in time for the 80th anniversary on Thursday, June 6.
The finished piece will be 80 meters and in 3D, representing 80 years and the 80 day Battle of Normandy before they got to liberate Paris.
READ MORE: Nomad Bean Coffee bringing a taste of Vietnam to Basingstoke
The 60-year-old who lives in Chineham, and often knits post box toppers, said that she took part in the project after seeing a post on Facebook calling for people to get involved.
The mother-of-four told the Gazette that they picked to knit three panels to go towards the project, which took them more than 1,000 to complete.
The panels include a solider marching to get on a boat to go to Normandy, a tank loading onto a ship at Gosport and another of an armed solider named Harry Kulkowitz - an army signals interceptor, climbing up a telecoms poll.
Jenny, who has lived in Basingstoke for around 40 years, said: "It's a lovely thing to be part of. I think it is really important that we remember the soldiers and we don't forget them because it is a very important part of our history. It was really important to be part of and I have learned so much from doing it."
Jenny has knitted all her life and said it has always been a hobby she has enjoyed.
"The whole time I was knitting the panels I was thinking of all the soldiers who didn't come home and it was really quite heart-warming to do," she added.
The project will be displayed in Carentan, Normandy from Tuesday, May 28 until Sunday, September 1.
SEE ALSO: Draft plans unveiled for development of 50 homes in Bramley
She said two of the panels have already been sent to Normandy, with the third expected to go on Monday, March 18.
Each scene has been selected by the creator to depict the story of the momentous day in history.
Some of the scenes are dedicated to actual Second World War veterans including Jenny's tank piece, which was knitted in memory of her father-in-law Roy Shepperd who was in the Royal Tank Regimen.
Jenny hopes the final project piece will tour and be brought to the UK.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here