Two Union Flags made up of hundreds of red, white and blue flowers have been unveiled as part of Carterton’s summer floral displays marking the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.

The floral flags have been created on a roundabout in Monahan Way and reflect the town’s close links with RAF Brize Norton.

The beds have been created by West Oxfordshire District Coun-cil’s grounds maintenance team, who are now managing Carterton Town Council’s floral displays.

Carterton’s mayor, Lynn Little, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with the floral displays and in particular the Union Jacks.

“The town has a close relationship with the RAF and we felt that the Union Jack, as our national flag, was symbolic, particularly as 2014 is the centenary of the war.

“It’s lovely to have a splash of colour throughout the town and the flowers will look stunning over the next few weeks.”

More than 2,200 plants have been used and the floral displays also include hanging baskets and raised planters in the town centre.

David Harvey, the district council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “Our grounds maintenance team work hard all year round to keep West Oxfordshire at its best and we’re delighted to have been contracted to do this work on behalf of Carterton Town Council.

Compost made from green waste collected from homes in West Oxfordshire was used in the beds.

The compost was donated by the council’s contractor, Agrivert, based at Radford, near Enstone, while AK Timms, of Brize Norton, delivered the eight tonnes of soil.