THOUSANDS of white doves have been popping up across the city to spread the message of peace, hope and resilience after the nerve agent attack.

An art installation by multimedia artist Michael Pendry called Les Colombes is being set up in the nave at Salisbury Cathedral.

The installation features a flock of about 2,500 white origami doves and opens to the public on Saturday (May 12).

Running alongside the installation is #SalisburyCityofDoves - a community project inspired by Pendry’s artwork.

More than 70 businesses, schools and other organisations are already taking part.

The project is being supported by the Wiltshire Recovery Co-ordinating Group.

Salisbury Cathedral’s visual arts advisor, Jacquiline Creswell, who is responsible for bringing Les Colombes to Salisbury, said: “Our community has recently been challenged by the nerve agent attack in our city and this exhibition brings with it the message that we can all come together to fold and create our own white doves that will fly as our symbol of hope, humanity and new beginnings.”

Salisbury Cathedral and Wiltshire Recovery Co-ordinating Group want as many people as possible to get involved in the #SalisburyCityofDoves project to show the strength and power of our community.

Businesses, groups or anyone that wants to participate go to salisburycathedral.org.uk for more information.