SOUTH Hams Newspapers has presented a cheque for almost £425 to the Kingsbridge branch of the Royal British Legion.

The money amounts to twenty per cent of the income raised through Poppy Appeal advertising.

Advertisement sales executive Kim Richards from South Hams Newspapers presented the cheque to John Peacock and Leon Locke from the Royal British Legion on Monday, November 9.

John Peacock, poppy organiser said: ‘We’re absolutely delighted to receive the cheque. It’s almost double last year’s amount that we received from South Hams Newspapers.

‘It’s too early to tell, but we’re not expecting the total amount we raised to be as high this year - last year was a big year as it was the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War. Although this year, the response from supermarkets has been fantastic.

‘We are also desperate for help for next year. We make poppies, the boxes and distribute them all - and if we don’t get help next year, we’ll have to restrict this to Kingsbridge.

‘We need collectors in the villages and couriers to deliver boxes out to rural areas. Anything anyone can do to help would be gratefully received.’