A POPPY seller who made the headlines last year is continuing to raise money to support the Royal British Legion.

John Mason, who lives in Powick, has been a record-breaking poppy seller for a number of years, collecting thousands of pounds for the charity.

Last year, he made the headlines when he sold poppies to motorists stuck in heavy traffic.

This year Mr Mason has turned to art, selling prints of one of his pictures to raise funds for the Poppy Appeal and the Royal Air Force Wings Appeal.

Mr Mason, himself an RAF veteran, was visited by West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin, who praised him for his efforts raising £3,000.

She said: “John’s enthusiastic fund-raising is well known locally and he always goes the extra mile to collect donations for these two important military charities.

“Poppy sellers have had to face significant extra challenges with the onset of coronavirus meaning that traditional fund-raising has been difficult.

“This year, we’ve had to do our Remembrance Sunday activities in a very different way, but that hasn’t stopped poppy sellers like John from continuing to raise money and mark this important annual event.

“John recruited me to help give this year’s campaign a final push and I hope he beats his target before we all mark the Armistice on Wednesday.”

In October last year, Mr Mason, president of the Powick and Callow End branch of the Royal British Legion, was spotted selling poppies to drivers stuck in heavy traffic in Powick.

At the time, he said he was given the idea by a neighbour.

Truck driver Craig Allington posted photos and a video of Mr Mason on Facebook, which was shared more than 1,000 times.