KIND-HEARTED town folk are being urged to step forward and offer a helping hand to the Royal British Legion.

The organisation behind the Poppy Appeal, which protects the welfare, interests and memory of ex-service people and their dependants are looking for town residents to collect for the Bromsgrove branch of the charity.

Poppy appeal organiser, Mary Joy is urging people to organise bring and buy sales, charity events or become a door to door or town charity collector.

She said: "We collect all year round.

"It's a way we can give something back to those people who have given us the quality of life we have today."

The money raised from the poppy appeal will not only help the former service people but younger veterans involved in such conflicts as the Gulf and Falklands War, which is marking its 20th anniversary this year.

The money provides free advice and home visits, holidays for the severely disabled and vocational help for former veterans to get back into employment.

Some 15 million people in the UK are eligible to ask for help whether or not they are legion members.

She added: "Anyone who has been in the British Armed Forces for seven days or more may ask for assistance.

"Those as young as 17 and a half can be sent on active service so veterans are often much younger than people realise."

"Remember, today's service people are the ex-service people of tomorrow. Many of them still need help from the poppy appeal and the organisation behind it."