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Chancellor George Osborne today visited the construction of the iconic poppy sculpture Wave, soon to be on full display in the , after government funding saved it for the nation.

Wave was part of the 888,246 ceramic poppies on display at the Tower of London to commemorate the First World War last autumn.

皇冠体育app majority of poppies were sold to raise money for military charities, and the government donated up to 拢1.1 million by waiving the VAT on these sales. However, two sculptures from the overall display, Wave and Weeping Window are now touring the country thanks to a 拢550,000 donation from the government and support from charities the Backstage Trust and the Clore Duffield Foundation.

This government funding came from fines levied on banks for fixing the Libor exchange rate. It is part of more than 拢500 million from banking fines pledged by the Chancellor to support military good causes and emergency service charities since 2012.

Wave is a curling swathe of poppies which rose up to create an arch over the entrance to the Tower. Weeping Window is the cascade of poppies that was seen pouring out of a high window down to the grassed moat below.

Visiting Yorkshire Sculpture Park, the Chancellor said:

Each one of these poppies, made in Derby and displayed at the Tower London last year, represents a British and Commonwealth soldier who answered the call from their country a century ago and made the ultimate sacrifice.

But not everyone who wanted to see them could come to London, so I agreed to provide 拢550,000 of support to help take part of this extraordinary display on a tour around the country.

I鈥檓 delighted that people here in Yorkshire, as well as others across the country, will be able to see these fantastic displays and pay their respects to those who sacrifice everything to protect British freedoms.

Last year, I also waived the VAT on the sale of these poppies, donating up to 拢1.1m to six charities who provide valuable support to injured Armed Services personnel and their families.

This funding came from Libor fines on banks, and it is only right that we use the fines from those who鈥檝e demonstrated the worst of values to support those who demonstrate the best of values every day.

I鈥檓 also proud to say that this government continues to recognise that Britain has always been resolute in defence of liberty and the promotion of stability around the world.

That鈥檚 why I recently committed to meet the NATO pledge to spend 2% of our national income on defence every year of this decade.

皇冠体育app two sculptures, which together have nearly 10,000 poppies, were gifted to charities and .

Wave will be on display at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park from 5 September until January 2016. Weeping Window will be exhibited at , Northumberland, and then in Liverpool. 皇冠体育app locations for 2016 are due to be announced on 16 September 2015.