A RECORD which has stayed for the past 13 years for the Poppy Day collection in the Redditch area has finally been broken this year, it was announced on Tuesday.

About 150 collectors gathered £542 11s. 6d. for Earl Haig's fund - the highest since 1942 when the collection totalled just over £541.

The result is even more of a success than it may first appear for in 1942 the Redditch area also included Webheath and Crabbs Cross.

Since then, Webheath has formed its own branch of the British Legion and Crabbs Cross has been absorbed into the Astwood Bank British Legion branch. The record collection this year, therefore, was made in a much smaller area than in 1942.

Mrs G H Smith, Redditch area organiser of the fund, said the collectors' boxes were sent to some 26 factories in the town, as well as to many schools and public houses while collectors on the streets of the town totalled nearly 40.