Love is in the air in Cromer ahead of Valentine's Day next month.

Eastern Daily Press: The Cromer war memorial. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYThe Cromer war memorial. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Cromer Town Council is offering the public the chance to sponsor the raising of the town flag, on the flagpole outside the parish church, on special occasions throughout the year for just £25 a time.

As well as anniversaries and birthdays, it is also being offered as an alternative to traditional romantic gestures such as chocolate and roses this Valentine's Day.

The fundraising initiative was mooted to raise money for the restoration of the town's war memorial.

Chairman of the war memorial restoration committee, David Pritchard, who revealed the most romantic gesture he has ever made was printing a special message to his fiancee in a national newspaper, said: 'We thought it was both a novel and a unique idea to publicly sponsor the flying of the flag.

Eastern Daily Press: Cromer Mayor John Frosdick (centre) celebrates his appointment with outgoing Mayor Tim Adams (left), who remains a town councillor following his election to the county council, and newly-elected Deputy Mayor David Pritchard (right). Picture: Ally McGilvrayCromer Mayor John Frosdick (centre) celebrates his appointment with outgoing Mayor Tim Adams (left), who remains a town councillor following his election to the county council, and newly-elected Deputy Mayor David Pritchard (right). Picture: Ally McGilvray (Image: Archant)

'It's up there for people to use for special occasions, and this time of year now we're inviting people to consider sponsoring the flag for Valentine's Day for a loved one.

'The flag will be flown, we will Tweet why the flag is being flown and on some occasions we will also send for example a birthday card or anniversary card.'

The war memorial restoration fund has already raised just under £22,000 since it was launched in 2014 - to mark 100 years since the beginning of the First World War.

The monument, built in 1921 and topped by a statue of St George, has become eroded and weather-beaten and requires work to restore it to its former glory.

Councillor Pritchard, who was joined by Cromer mayor Tim Adams for the launch of the fundraising initiative, said: 'We are waiting to hear in the next few weeks the result of our application to the War Memorials Trust, which we were told we should hear about mid-February. That is hopefully going to provide a large amount towards the amount that we need to start the restorative work on the war memorial.

'We're also looking to add the names of the fallen from World War Two and subsequent conflicts, there is space for them. Currently they are remembered at the rear of the church, we'd like to bring that out to where the public can see those names.'