A VERY special tree planting will take place in Ludlow.

It will mark the start of the town’s commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

The tree is from Ludlow’s twin town of La Ferte Mace in France.

It will replace a tree that has since died that was planted in the Castle grounds 100 years ago to mark the ending of the Great War.

The tree will be planted in the same place as the one that it replaces and the ceremony will take place at 11am on Tuesday.

Dignitaries and people from some of the families of soldiers from Ludlow who lost their lives are expected to be present.

The date has been chosen because it comes exactly 100 years after the death of the first soldier from Ludlow to give his life in the First World War.

More than 140 men from Ludlow and the surrounding area were killed on active service during the war that lasted from August 1914 until November 1918.

The tree planting and other activities connected with the commemoration of men from Ludlow, who gave their lives in war, have been made possible through a fund led by Margaret Edwards and Jean Parker from Poyners in Broad Street in the town centre.

More than £10,000 has been raised over the years and all through donations from the people of Ludlow and the surrounding area along with support from local businesses.

“It has been a wonderful effort from everyone involved,” said Margaret Edwards.

On Tuesday evening a series of six beer mats will be launched at Ludlow Brewery depicting five soldiers from Ludlow who died in the First World War and one who survived and was the town’s most decorated serviceman.

One of the achievements of the fund has been to have the names of every serviceman who died the First and Second World Wars and well as the Korean War placed on the paving slabs around the town’s war memorial.

This was officially unveiled in 2016 to mark the centenary of the death of the first soldier from Ludlow to be killed in the Battle of the Somme.

An exhibition linked to the 1914-18 war is the be staged at St Laurence Church in Ludlow until November 12.