A memorial built by Westbury stonemason Nick Johnson in honour of the First World War Christmas truce football game of December 1914 was unveiled today by the Duke of Cambridge.

England manager Roy Hodgson joined Prince William to unveil the statue, which remembers the match between German and Allied troops, at the National Memorial Arboretum.

Mr Johnson, who has run Westbury stonemason’s Young Johnson for 25 years, was asked to build the memorial using the design of ten-year-old Spencer Turner, from Newcastle, who won a national competition backed by Prince William.

The prince and England forward Theo Walcott selected his design following a competition involving more than 30,000 schools.

Speaking at the ceremony today, Prince William said he was delighted to unveil the “lasting monument” to the Christmas Truce, which is remembered for bringing the war to a temporary halt.

The prince said the design “perfectly captured” the essence of the truce. He added: “Football had the power to bring people together and break down barriers. It is vital that 100 years on we keep the Christmas truce story alive.”

Mr Johnson, 50, visited the National Memorial Arboretum on Armistice Day in November and met with England manager Roy Hodgson, coach Gareth Southgate and England stars Theo Walcott, Joe Hart, Jack Butland and Nathan Redmond.

He said at the time that it was a “great honour” to be asked to do the memorial and complimented Spencer’s “impressive” design.