People with disabilities in Leatherhead have been enlisted to help with the assembly of a commemorative WW1 figurine following overwhelming demand.

Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company has a factory in Kingston Road, and is owned by military and disability charity Royal British Legion Industries, employs 30 people - more than 95 per cent of whom have a disability.

The team have been tasked with packaging Perspex ‘Tommy’ figures of a First World War soldiers following the successful February launch of There But Not There - a national campaign commemorating the centenary of The Great War.

Volunteer Andrew Middleton, 65, who uses a wheelchair as a result of spina bifida, said: “it is a huge honour to be working on such a project.

“The Tommy figures pay homage beautifully to the service personnel who gave their all.

“We can’t help but think about their sacrifices as we pack them away – it’s very moving.”

The main Kent factory, which employs both Armed Forces veterans and people with disabilities, originally secured the deal through a competitive tender.

However, both sites will now rally together after almost 40,000 figures were sold in just two days.

Geoff Streetley, managing director of Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, said: “The reaction to the There But Not There campaign has been nothing short of phenomenal.

“There is clearly an immense public appetite to commemorate the First World War and we are extremely proud to have both of our sites playing such an active role in that.

“Our Leatherhead team are a prime example of a section of society who unfortunately are far too often written off when it comes to employment, yet as we have seen with this project, when they are given the opportunity, they can go above and beyond to achieve fantastic results.

“That is what really drives Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company - the understanding that enterprises can be both commercially sustainable and also committed to social value.”

BBMC’s Surrey site specialises in printing, mailing and fulfilment services with customers including Mole Valley District Council, The Children’s Trust and BMW Vines.

To purchase your own commemorative Tommy figurine, visit ThereButNotThere.org.uk