Hundreds of poppies picked up (From Warrington Guardian)

Hundreds of poppies picked up

"THE first people to put money in the box on Monday were two young girls, I thought that was really nice," said poppy seller Dennis Delooze as he arranged the paper flowers for Wednesday's sale outside Sainsbury's.

Selling poppies raises millions of pounds for the Royal British Legion's welfare fund but unfortunately as the veterans grow older, sellers are in shorter supply.

His pitch in the supermarket's front entrance was eye-catching but would anyone buy his paper flowers and if so, would it just be the older folk?

Any worries he had were quickly dismissed as person after person made a beeline for his table.

"Thank you, please help yourself, have a nice day," and other cheery greetings were exchanged along with snippets of conversation, as hundreds of poppies were picked up and pinned on to coat lapels.

Young and old slipped donations into the collection box, although younger people seemed more reticent about taking a poppy after making a donation.

Dennis, aged 66, of Thelwall, said the current conflict in Iraq seemed to be increasing sales and bringing the armed forces to the forefront of people's minds.

Sue Simm, aged 40, a medical rep from Wigan who works in the town, picked up a poppy and added: "It's a shame it's so easy to forget these days what the old folk did for us. I'm friends with a Chelsea Pensioner and make sure my children know his stories."