ANGRY Royal British Legion bosses have slammed ‘despicable’ profiteers who have been selling on bespoke Poppy Appeal badges.

Charity chiefs were stunned when they received complaints that someone had been selling the £2 badges for £5.

Of 3,000 badges specially produced for the Darwen branch, just a couple of hundred remain.

Police said they were investigating the issue, describing anyone who was involved as ‘downright unscrupulous’.

The badges, which should only be sold by official sellers or approved outlets in the town, feature Darwen Tower next to a poppy.

Darwen’s appeal organiser Stephen Potter warned people to make sure they paid only £2 for the badges.

Mr Potter said: “The badges cost £2, not a fiver.

“People need to be warned. Don’t be conned by unscrupulous people taking advantage of the Poppy Appeal.

“Somebody is trying to make money from a really deserving cause.”

Mr Potter said the badges, which are unique to the town, had sold well and sparked a lot of interest in the run up to Remembrance Day on November 11.

He said: “They have been very popular. We do our own badge every year.

“They are going like hot cakes. From 3,000 I only have a couple of hundred left.

“For people to have bought a lot of them to sell on for profit is a disgrace.

“Once a badge is bought, it is not for resale. To cash in on the Poppy Appeal is simply out of order.

“I have now told our stallholders and other sellers to watch how many people are buying.”

British Legion branch chairman Bob Wood said: “It is not on at all. It makes it sound like we are ripping people off, but we are not.”

Sgt Rob Evans, who is in charge of community policing in Darwen, said officers were investigating.

He said: “From the information given it would appear someone, or a group of people, have bought badges in small numbers from different places to avoid arousing suspicion.

“They have then sold them on for £5 for a potential small profit.

“We would advise people to buy badges from a reputable store or from a recognised Royal British Legion seller.

“People also must be aware that the price for the badges is £2.

“If people see anyone selling these badges for £5 they should contact us immediately.

“However, it is unclear at this time what their intention is and whether they plan to pass the money back on to the charity.”

Sunnyhurst councillor Dave Smith said: “It is downright despicable, especially with something like the Poppy Appeal.

“I doubt very much any profits they make will be donated to the legion.”

Darrener Brian Bibby, of Cemetery Road, said: “It is despicable really. It is not right to make cash gains from a charity.”

Joyce Marsden, of Beech Grove, Lower Darwen, who was part of the team running the Poppy Appeal stall in Darwen Sainsbury’s, said: “It is awful. I just do not know how somebody could do that.”