5,500 poppies cascade down Carlisle Castle

A famous sculpture made of 5,500 poppies has opened to the public at Carlisle Castle today.

The Weeping Window is on tour in tribute to the men from the local area who fought and died for their country 100 years ago.

The display was created by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper, and will be on display from 23 May to 8 July 2018.

It is part of the final year of the UK-wide tour of the iconic poppies, which were used in a similar sculpture at the Tower of London in 2014.

The poppies start from the top of the keep, arching over the wall and down to an area where troops were housed and trained in preparation for front-line combat in the First World War.

Throughout the war, Carlisle Castle was the headquarters for the Border Regiment, one of the oldest in the British Army.

A total of 23,000 recruits passed through the castle during this time.

At the end of the tour the poppies will become part of the permanent collections at the Imperial War Museums.