THE Royal British Legion in Redditch is celebrating an unprecedented response to its Poppy Appeal after managing to smash its previous efforts by more than £2,000.

Legion chiefs were overjoyed after raising £14,120 and even more money is on the way.

Poppy Appeal organiser Peter Styler said: It's absolutely marvellous that the people of Redditch should respond so generously once again to our appeal.

Although the Second World War ended 55 years ago, people still remember and recognise the sacrifice so many people made then and in conflicts since.

The need for help grows no less. Indeed, it increases as the war veterans get older and this wonderful response shows that the people of this town recognise the importance of the work which the legion does for ex-servicemen and women and their dependants.

Almost half of the total raised was collected in the Kingfisher Centre, where three days of work realised £6,706 from generous shoppers.

Redditch schools also pulled out all the stops to raise £1,165.

This shows that young and old alike were prepared to give to our very worthy cause, said Mr Styler.

We are very grateful to the Kingfisher Centre management for allowing us to collect there for three days and to all those volunteers and cadets who turned out to sell poppies.

The legion branch, based in Easemore Road, will hold its annual Poppy Night in spring to honour all those who helped throughout the appeal.