A BLACKBURN stone masonry firm has been chosen to create specially-commissioned First World War memorials designed by youngsters from across the country.

The government recently announced a competition to design a picture for a paving stone which will be placed in the home towns of every Victoria Cross winner from the Great War.

Brent Stevenson Memorials, which was established in 1883, has been chosen as the supplier for a spin-off competition, for which more than 200 primary and secondary school pupils submitted their designs.

The Preston Old Road firm is run by the fifth generation of the family and was due to unveil the two winning paving stone designs at a ceremony in London today. The two York stone plaques, complete with one primary and one secondary school pupil’s drawings, had to be des- igned and lettered inter- preting the children’s ideas.

The stones were then being taken back to the two winning schools for them to lay at their site.

The unveiling of the winning design to be included in the national Victoria Cross Commemorative Paving Stone Campaign will be revealed at the same event, at the Army and Navy Club in Pall Mall.

Brent Stevenson said: “It’s great that a family company like mine has been chosen as the supplier for this competition.

“I’m very proud of being involved, especially in the lead-up to Remembrance Day and the centenary of the start of the First World War.

“To be involved is fantastic and it’s a great cause as well. We were only told a few days ago that we had been chosen so we have had to put in a lot of work to get everything ready.”