Poppy appeals launched and people in Scunthorpe and district urged to give generously

Poppy appeals across North Lincolnshire have been launched and organisations are hoping to raise as much money as possible for the cause.

The Scunthorpe branch of the Royal British Legion has officially kicked off its Poppy Appeal at Glanford Park.

Soldiers from the 147 Reme Budd VC Barracks raised £696 at the event, which took place during the Scunthorpe United clash with MK Dons.

Robert Bassindale, chairman of the Scunthorpe branch of the Royal British Legion, said the poppy appeal had got off to a good start.

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He said: "Last year we raised £36,362 for the Poppy Appeal. We are hoping to top that figure this year. Nationally, we raised £40 million."

The Scunthorpe branch of the Royal British Legion anticipates it will sell 70 wreathes.

The branch managed to raise more than £934 on the first day of collecting at the Morrisons supermarket in Scunthorpe.

Members are distributing more than 400 poppy tins to pubs and organisations in the Scunthorpe, Crowle, Eastoft, Messingham and Burringham areas.

Local tattoo studio Ashby Ink is also helping to raise money for this year's Poppy Appeal.

Owner Tony Bayly will be opening his store on Remembrance Sunday to tattoo poppies on customers.

He will be tattooing small black and grey poppies for a £10 donation and larger poppies with writing for a £40 donations. He said: "It was my wife's friend who came up with the idea.

"I don't normally open on Sundays and I have already had interest from around 30 to 35 people. All the proceeds will go towards the local branch of the Royal British Legion."

Sainsbury's on Doncaster Road in Scunthorpe is also supporting the Royal British Legion. The store is donating 10p from every cut flower bouquet sold over the Remembrance weekend from November 8 to November 11 to the Poppy Appeal.

RAF cadets will be volunteering in the store packing bags on Saturday, November 10 from 10am to 4pm.

Store manager Mark Finnerty said: "Last year, with the support of our customers and colleagues, we donated more than £3.7 million to the Poppy Appeal Campaign."

The Brigg Poppy Appeal was launched on October 27 with a musical evening and remembrance and respect concert at St John's Church.

Before the concert started, Llewellyn Gudgeon, of the Brigg and District Branch of the Royal British Legion, presented Maureen Glossop, the long-standing Poppy Appeal organiser, with a £1,315 cheque – proceeds from the recent Brigg 10km Run.