People of a certain age will remember that Tie a Yellow Ribbon was the biggest song of 1973.

But an updated version of that sentiment is proving popular in Farnham, as the Gostrey Meadow footbridge has been given a peaceful makeover.

The bridge has been adorned with white ribbons with each featuring a small piece of card and a written prayer for world peace.

The first ribbons were tied to the bridge in mid-July when more than 40 Christians from across Farnham came to pray for peace in response to conflicts around the world.

Reverends David Uffindell and Sandy Clarke, from St Andrew’s and The Bourne parishes respectively, instigated the gathering. The former said: “The idea arose out of a simple conversation between Sandy and me about the grim international news and that our ability to do anything in response was apparently so limited.

“It was thrilling to see so many people meet and make a quiet and gentle response to such a grave situation.”

The group left spare cards, ribbon and pens so that others could add their prayers.

Most are for general world peace but some include specific messages for Palestine, Israel and Ukraine.

A participant in the original gathering said: “We can feel helpless when we hear about all the suffering and conflict around the world.

“I don’t know how prayer works but I know it helps.

“Perhaps one way it does that is to connect us with God and help us bring peace where we are and that spirals out towards other situations. I think we should create the world we want to see in the space we are in. If more of us did that it would make a difference.”

Meanwhile, the construction bridge connecting Brightwells with the A31 has since been replaced with a pedestrian version.