A WAR veteran whose 35-year commitment to the Royal British Legion has helped raise £300,000 by selling poppies is calling it a day - but fears a shortage of recruits could spell disaster for the Worcester branch.

Former Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer Engineer John Hewlett says the time has come for him and his co-organiser wife Betty to pass on the mantle to a new organiser for the Legion's work.

"We won't be giving it up completely, and we'll help as much as we can," said the 86-year-old.

"It's the kind of work that would suit an ex-serviceman or lady, or somebody with no work commitments."

But Mr Hewlett is worried recruits are thin on the ground and just six poppy sellers currently cover an area where there should be about 20.

The Legion has already stopped house-to-house collections due to the shortage and for safety reasons.

Mr Hewlett will stay on as branch chairman, but the couple decided to wind down their active work on the medical advice of their granddaughter Suzanne, a Surgeon Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy.

"My granddaughter said we need to slow down for our health's sake," said Mr Hewlett.

"I feel a bit guilty having to give it up, but I'm not going to last forever. The problem is none of us is getting any younger so I suppose people don't want the responsibility."

Mr Hewlett, from St John's, who served in the British Pacific Fleet against the Japanese, says he joined the Legion to honour the memory of friends and colleagues who were killed during the Second World War.

"When I came out of the Navy I thought I could do something for the chappies who didn't come back.

"I've seen terrible things, ships getting sunk," he said emotionally. "And I couldn't do anything for them then, so I've done what I could since.

"If no-one comes forward then we won't let the Legion down, but we hope someone will want to help the cause for veterans and war widows that the Legion helps."

Anyone interested in the position should contact Mr Hewlett on 01905 422292.