A DROITWICH company will be doing its bit to help the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal this week.

Robert Wiseman's Dairies has produced special edition milk cartons sporting a message from the legion, outlining how people can become involved in this year's appeal.

It is not the first time the Scottish dairy - which opened its state-of-the-art milk processing plant on Stonebridge Cross Business Park in April this year - has become involved in special edition cartons.

"Robert Wiseman Dairies is renowned for its special edition cartons," said sales and marketing director, Sandy Wilkie.

"We are proud to support the Poppy Appeal," she continued.

"By carrying this message on the side of our cartons we can communicate with many thousands of people every day which we hope will make a real contribution to this year's campaign."

Funds raised from the special cartons will go towards reaching the legion's 2001 Poppy Appeal target of more than £20 million.

"The milk cartons are an easy way for shoppers to support our work for the 15-million ex-service people and their dependants who are eligible to approach the legion for welfare and resettlement help," said a spokesman for the Royal British Legion.

The Royal British Legion is Britain's leading ex-service charity and has been protecting the interests and memory of ex-service people and their families since 1921.

Last year, it spent £43m on resettlement and welfare work. Less than half of this is funded through the Poppy Appeal, appeal, with the remainder coming from donations and sponsorship by individuals, groups and businesses.

Robert Wiseman Dairies' Droitwich plant is Europe's, and possibly the world's, largest milk processing plant.

When running at full capacity, it can produce 500-million litres of milk a year.

To date, more than 100 different messages have appeared on the side of hundreds of thousands of milk cartons, from promoting Glasgow University's fundraising campaign for a heart scanner, to light-hearted reminders for Father's Day.

Most recently, there have been hallowe'en and bonfire night cartons.

The 500ml and one litre Poppy Appeal cartons will be on sale all this week in Worcestershire in Costcutter stores and Alldays Convenience Stores.