19,000 hand-made shrouded figures commemorate the Battle of the Somme
Almost 20,000 hand-made shrouded figures have been laid out to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
A ceremony is being held in Exeter to commemorate the bloodiest battle in World War One, with 19,240 figures on show in Northernhay Gardens in memory of those who died on the first day of the battle.
It the culmination of three years' work by Somerset artist Rob Heard.
Whistles are being blown at seven thirty- the exact time, the first men went over the top.
As he made the figures Rob wanted to ensure the process paid a proper tribute to the men who fell.
He kept the names of all the casualties displays on the walls of his workshop, crossing off a name as each soldier was completed.
Photos also reminded Rob to focus on the living man behind each dead figure.
Rob spent an incredible 10 hours a day making the shrouded figures.
WHAT WAS THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME?
The Battle of the Somme was fought between July and November 1916, and is often called one of the defining events of the First World War.
It was the largest battle on the Western front and saw over one million wounded, killed or missing in action on both sides.
July 1 1916, was - and still is - the deadliest day in the history of the British Army. Almost 20,000 British Empire soldiers lost their lives in just 24 hours.
As well as being the deadliest battle of the 1914-1918 conflict, it was also one of the bloodiest battles in human history.