Armistice Day: Tower of London poppies in pictures

Last poppy was planted today as the UK commemorates the First World War

Crowds gather to see the red ceramic poppies that form part of the art installation "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red" at the Tower of London in London

The Tower of London poppies will begin to be "picked" tomorrow as the ceramic flowers are posted to their owners.

The 888,246 flowers - one for each British and Commonwealth death during the First World War - have drawn an estimated four million visitors during the display in the capital.

More than 19,000 volunteers installed them from 17 July until the last one was planted today, as ceremonies across the UK commemorate the end of the conflict.

Two parts of the installation, named Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, are staying in place at the Tower until the end of the month after organisers refused calls to maintain the entire work.

The Wave and Weeping Window sections will then tour the UK until being put into the Imperial War Museums in London and Manchester in 2018.

Paul Cummins, who created the installation, said last week that “it would be nice” to keep the poppies on display, but that the piece was intended to show the transience of human existence and “it belongs to the world now”.

Costing £25 each, the poppies had sold out weeks into their sale and all net proceeds plus 10 per cent are to be shared between six service charities, including the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes.

General the Lord Dannatt, constable of the Tower of London, said the poppies had "captured the heart of the nation".

“We are delighted that key elements...are to be preserved for many more thousands of people to see and appreciate over the coming four years," he added.

Michael Day, the chief executive of Historic Royal Palaces, which runs the Tower, thanked the many volunteers behind the event as well as those giving the poppies permanent homes.

He added: "We have been overwhelmed by the support and generosity of everyone involved."