Volunteers for the poppy appeal will be on sentry duty this year to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the campaign store in Chorley town centre.

Each year the appeal sets up in an empty store in the town, and for 2005 it's on the corner of High Street and Cleveland Street.

Organiser Jim McCauley hopes to make this year bigger and better by raising more than £11,000 by the time the shop, which sells poppies, wreaths and crosses, closes on Saturday, November, 12.

And it is the first year a 'sentry box' has been installed to help encourage shoppers and passers-by to pop in for a poppy.

"It started out as a bit of a joke," said Mr McCauley, an instructor for Chorley Detachment Lancashire Army Cadet Force.

"Before we knew it we were getting the tools together, and three days later we'd finished the box."

One war veteran who has been manning the box is Roy Peters, 77, of Primrose Street, Chorley, who served as a private in the Black Watch in Germany from 1948 to 49.

He said: "The poppy appeal is ever so important because it's for the people who died and never came home."

Mr McCauley, 52, who manages the shop with wife, Margaret, 47, said people in Chorley are always very generous.

He added: "Last year we raised £10,792.93 and this year we want to go bigger and better to raise at least £11,000."

The store, which has been donated by the owners of Number Fifteen bar, Yesteryear Pubs, is decked out with military photos and illustrations.

"When you mention the poppy appeal people only think of World War II, but it's also about remembering those from Korea, Borneo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Cyprus, the Falklands, the list goes on," added Mr McCauley.

The poppy appeal supports the work of the Royal British Legion, which offers support to war veterans and their families.

The store is open from 9am to 5pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and from 9am to 2.30pm on Wednesday and closed on Sunday.

Councillor Jack Wilson, leader of Chorley Borough Council, said: "I'm delighted to hear that the Royal British Legion is enjoying 10 years collecting money for its poppy appeal in Chorley and it's great news to hear that 100 per cent of the money raised goes direct to the charity, thanks to the generosity of local businesses and the council's decision to waiver very short term business rates for enterprises of this kind."