After the county was blasted by severe storms this year, one village came together to create a poignant Remembrance Day tribute out of the destruction.

Storm Eleanor hit the Jurassic Coast in January this year. Gusts of up to 100mph caused power cuts, structural damage and uprooted trees across the county, creating chaos on the roads.

In East Lulworth an ancient oak tree, believed to be more than 450 years old, was uprooted.

Local man Matthew Barnes said: “This wasn’t just any old oak, it was believed to be by far the oldest oak in the village. It was a sad day for the villagers, to see their lovely old tree torn from its roots.”

The village is part of the Weld Estate, which extends over 20 square miles of the countryside, including five miles of the Jurassic Coast and internationally renowned landmarks such as Durdle Door and Lulworth Castle.

James Weld, owner of the estate, was asked by the parish council if something could be made from the wood for the village.

Mr Weld said: "The Estate was more than happy for the village to have the tree and moved it into place for them while Steve Levitt, a local resident, agreed to do the work for no charge."

After meeting at the tree a large limb was selected to make a bench seat. At the same time, it was suggested that it could also commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War .

Mr Levitt set about turning the large piece of oak in to a seat. He carved four bucket shaped seats into it, with 1918 carved in one end and 2018 the other.

Between the two middle seats he carved a poppy, and despite a family bereavement he managed to get it finished in time for Remembrance Day.

As Mr Levitt carried out the work, he estimated the age of the tree to be around 450 years old, which would make it older than Lulworth Castle.

Mr Barnes said: “We would like to believe that some of the soldiers that were killed in the First World War that lived in the village may have even climbed this tree when they were boys, as the children of today would have before it was brought down in the storm.”