SILHOUETTE tributes to the men of Mersea and Peldon who died during the First World War are set to raise thousands of pounds for good causes when they go under the hammer.

Ten Tommy statues will be sold by auction house Reeman Dansie, in Wyncolls Road, Colchester, from 10am today.

A total of 51 of the statues were made by steel fabricator Duncan Pittock and his daughter, Faith, before being placed on The Strood for a year to mark the centenary of the end of the conflict.

Each represented a man from the area who was killed during the war.

Now, however, they are all being sold to raise money for a collection of good causes.

The first 26 of the silhouettes were auctioned off during a special event at Mersea Outdoors, raising an impressive £24,000.

Auctioneer Lewis Rabett, who will lead the Reeman Dansie auction, said the firm was hoping to boost the total significantly.

He said: “We have fairly high expectations because the bar has now been set. We have had lots of interest from people on the island and in Colchester.

“We have estimated them with the help of Duncan at £200 to £300, but that is only a guide.

“We have already got bids well in excess of that for specific figures, which may be from family members or loved one of the people they are of.

“Most of the bids are from Colchester, but obviously it is a live auction, so there may be people spread around the country or internationally.

“Who knows who might be watching and looking to bid?”

The auctioneers is offering its services free of charge and said it jumped at the chance to get involved.

Mr Rabbett said: “We are an old Colchester firm and we love to do our bit to support charities.

“When we were approached about this, we said ‘yes’ straight away.

“We are doing it all without charge and we are not earning any money ourselves. All the cash will go straight to the charities.”

There are also five Tommys available in a raffle and ten are for sale via sealed bids at Mersea’s Royal British Legion Hall.

The money raised will be split between the Royal British Legion, Mersea Island Tales Educational Trust, Mersea Island Rotary Club, Mersea Lions Club, The Strood Charity and Dabchicks Sailing Club.

Search Strood Soldiers on Facebook for more information.