Proposals to build a war memorial in an Essex village have been given the green light.

Braintree District Council has given planning consent for a commemorative sheltered seating area to be constructed in Colne Engaine, near Halstead, that will honour those who have died in conflicts but also be an asset used by the community.

Supporters of the project have set up a Colne Engaine War Memorial committee to raise the estimated £25,000 it will cost to construct and maintain the brick and oak structure which will take pride of place on playing fields near the church.

Darran Lingley, the chairman of the Parish Council and a member of the committee, said: “It’s an important milestone to have permission to go ahead with the memorial.

“We have lots of fundraising events planned including tea dances and quizzes and we are asking people to buy a brick to go into the memorial.

“The project has brought people together and we’ve had donations from as far afield as the US and Australia from people who have a connection with the village.

“People have also come forward to offer to build the memorial for free while our architect, Philip Morphy, gave his services at no cost to the project.”

Another venture that the committee hopes will raise some funds is its involvement in this year’s Essex Girls and Boys Clubs charity jail break, due to be held on April 26..

The aim of the event is for participants to get as far or do as much as possible in 15 hours without spending any money.

The Colne Engaine War Memorial committee has entered two teams.One is aiming to get to a battlefield in Belgium where a man from the village died in the First World War. The other team intends to drive old Second World War Willis Jeep, lent by to Earls Colne Airfield Vehicles Group, from pub to pub collecting for their fund.

Mr Lingley added: “We would be interested in hearing from any pubs in the county who wouldn’t mind us turning up on the day in an old Second World War vehicle and the team in costume and encouraging the locals to “buy us a drink” in the form of a donation.”

Information can be found on the ColneEngaineWarMemorialProject Facebook page

Is there a war memorial in your village or town? Send us a photo and help us build an online archive paying tribute to all of those who have fought, and paid the ultimate sacrifice, in our honour. E-mail natalie.sadler@archant.co.uk