ROYAL British Legion volunteers Mary Cadogan and Philip Munns stepped in to make sure Abingdon residents will be able to buy poppies in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday.

There was a delay in the supply of the traditional red flower, worn in memory of the war dead, after last year's Royal British Legion Poppy fund organiser Sue Dance resigned in the summer.

Neighbouring Berkshire organiser Bridie Spinks, from Steventon, was due to run this year's appeal, but fell ill.

But helpers have stepped in to help and everything is looking rosy again.

Abingdon branch secretary Bob Griffiths, from Culham, stepped in at the 11th hour, and Miss Cadogan and Mr Munns, who work as volunteers at the British Legion in Spring Road, distributed 100 boxes, each containing 200 poppies, to schools, shops and pubs across the town on Friday.

Miss Cadogan said: "When we heard there was a problem, we volunteered to help straight away. Everywhere we go people are so chuffed to be able to buy poppies.

"We went round a lot of pubs and found lots of servicemen and made sure they bought poppies.

"This is a good cause all year round but with soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is an extra reason to show support.

"It is a shame this was left to the last minute, but we've got sellers outside Waitrose and Tesco now and our street sellers are out and about.

"Bruce Thomas, who is 89 and from Drayton, will be on his mobility scooter selling poppies - everyone is rallying round."

Soldiers from nearby Dalton Barracks have also been asked to help with street collections.

Last year, in Berkshire and the Vale of White Horse, poppy collectors raised £600,000. This year, the Royal British Legion distributed more than £1.3m in welfare aid to servicemen and their families, including those involved in Afghanistan and Iraq.

More than 400 soldiers at Dalton Barracks have recently returned from Afghanistan.

Mr Griffiths said: "Mary and Philip have made a terrific effort to get poppies out on the streets of Abingdon and they have really saved the day.

"They were out all day on Friday distributing boxes of poppies around the town - it was a fantastic effort.

"We might not have as good a year as we did in previous years, but thanks to Mary and Philip, the situation will not be too bad."