BURY'S Royal British Legion collected a record £22,700 from its annual Poppy Appeal.

This compared to an impressive £16,950 in the previous year.

With more money expected to come in before the end of April, local appeal organisers this week heaped praise on the public who have given generously in the town centre, Walshaw and Elton areas.

Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) Eric Davidson, honorary organiser, said: "This has been a truly magnificent effort from the people of Bury and for their kind generosity I thank them very much indeed. The strategy concerning Poppy Appeal collections was changed last year, making way for more static collection points rather than door to door sales. This obviously paid off and we have enjoyed our best year ever.

"Every year we have seen the appeal total grow but this is normally between £500 and £1,200. To collect nearly £6,000 extra is unbelievable."

The money will now go into a national pot to support and help ex-servicemen and women and their families during times of need.

Mr Davidson said: "Of course, none of this would have been possible without the voluntary effort of so many people who gave up their free time to act as collectors and distributors of the poppy boxes and who braved the elements prior to Remembrance Day. We owe a great deal of gratitude to them."

Elsewhere in the borough, the Radcliffe branch collected £4,000 with more to come, while the Prestwich and Ramsbottom sections have yet to reveal their collection totals.

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