A TOWN remembered its fallen soldiers in an innovative way.

Ceramic plaques bearing the iconic poppy were placed at the homes of the 178 men who died in the First World War from Dalton and Newton.

The items were crafted in workshops by children from local members of the charity Age UK.

Dalton Town Councillor Ann Thurlow, who organised the project, said it was important to honour the memory of those who died in the war.

She said: "Four years ago we marked the anniversary of the start of World War One by putting cards up in households where soldiers lived.

"Everyone in the town reacted warmly to it.

"They were impressed people had left the small town of Dalton and fought for king and country and not come back.

"But to mark the end of the war we wanted to make something more permanent."

In 1901 aged 11 James was living with his parents, John and Elizabeth Ashworth and brother, John Wilfred aged 14 at 25 Cleater Street. The family later moved to 72 Prince Street, Dalton. His father was a clerk at the Shipyard also worked as a schoolmaster and was a member of the Weslyan Church. James served with the 9th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry reaching the rank of Second Lieutenant. James was killed in action on June 25th 1916 aged 26 He is buried at La Clytte Military Cemetery, Reninghelst, Belgium. James left a wife Gladys who later moved to live at 11 Queen Margaret Place, Glasgow.