A memorial book has been launched to remember the lives lost and the impact on communities in Stafford Borough as a result of Covid-19.

The online ‘Book of Memories’ allows residents to share their memories and tributes for inclusion on the council’s website. A postcard is also being made available for residents who do not have access to the internet to record their memories so they can be added to the book.

The idea was one of the suggestions from a cross-party working group of Stafford Borough Councillors which was set up to put forward proposals to commemorate the lives that have been affected by the pandemic.

The ‘book’ and information on how to leave messages can be found at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/onlinememories.

The postcards will be given to parish councils and to borough councillors and will also be available soon from community buildings.

The cross-party working group was put forward by council leader, Patrick Farrington, who said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had, and continues to have, a huge impact on the lives of residents living in the borough. The scale and effects of covid are different, the knock-on effects are vast, especially for people who have lost loved ones and for those who are living with long covid.

“I hope that residents across the communities find sharing their memories and experiences in this online book will help or bring some comfort to them and others, as well as being a lasting tribute to a loved one.”

Other initiatives will include areas of dedication and reflection – which could see benches installed in Stafford Market Square and Stone High Street as well as in Local Nature Reserves. And memorial woodlands created, for example, at Westbridge Park in Stone and the newly designated Local Nature Reserve at Fairway in Stafford.