HUNDREDS of knitters have raised the flag for a fallen Herefordshire soldier.

Ali Aldridge has sewn up an attempt to create a huge Union Flag in memory of Rifleman William Aldridge.

The aunt of the Bredenbury soldier asked knitters to donate squares or woollen items for a record-breaking bid.

But she could have produced two, having received nearly 1,200 donations from knitters across the world.

The flag – which measures 13ft by 9ft and contains 736 squares – will be raised in St Peter’s Church, Hereford, on June 26.

She is now knitting other items for the fund-raising exhibition, which coincides with Armed Forces Day.

“It probably is the largest in the world, but there’s a lot of technical issues which means it doesn’t qualify,” said Mrs Aldridge.

“I know I received 1,200 squares but I couldn’t make it any bigger. I’ve got to say the response was amazing.

Mrs Aldridge, aged 41, started making the flag last September, two months after her 18-year-old nephew died in Afghanistan.

The mother-of-three, from Bristol, took five months to complete the patriotic tribute and was helped by 50 volunteers.

“It’s a tribute to William, but it’s also to help his comrades – the response was phenomenal and I’m so grateful,” she said.

Donations from the St Peter’s exhibition, open from 10am to 3pm, will go to sevice support charities Afghan Heroes and the Rifleman’s Fund.