Work has begun on a statue to mark the centenary of the start of World War I.

EADT24 reports that that a seven foot-tall bronze figure of Private Herbert Columbine VC of the Machine Gun Corps is being created by sculptor John Doubleday to stand on the seafront at Walton on the Naze.

EADT adds that the idea for the memorial came from six Walton residents who have spent the past two years aiming to raise the £52,000 needed to pay for the statue.

Group member Michael Turner said; ‘We are looking for help with the final push to raise money.

Doubleday added: ‘For me Private Columbine stands for all the Tommies who showed extreme selflessness and courage, and were ultimately mown down due to the questionable decisions made by their senior commanders.’

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