WITH his dying breath, leukaemia sufferer Ernest Hancock told his mother he was determined to get out of hospital in time to help with the Poppy Appeal.

A dedicated fundraiser despite being mentally handicapped, his death came the day he was due to be presented with a medal marking 30 years as a Royal British Legion poppy seller in County Durham.

In a tearful ceremony at his hospital bedside, legion officials pinned the long service medal to his pillow as he slept. He never woke to see it, dying only hours later.

More than 70 cards, many containing donations in his name to the Poppy Appeal, have flooded in from well-wishers to the home he shared with his mother, Jeanne Heward, 82, in Consett, County Durham.

Yesterday, Vera Parnaby, county treasurer for the women's section of the Durham Royal British Legion and co-ordinator of the Poppy Appeal in Derwentside, recalled the sad moment when Mr Hancock was presented with his medal.

"I took it to the hospital and pinned it to his pillow," she said. "He was not awake, but I talked to him and told him it would be there for him when he woke up.

"When we found out he was ill, I sent for the medal immediately, knowing what it would mean to him. It just came a day too late."

He died, aged 61, in the University Hospital of North Durham on October 10.

Ms Parnaby praised his dedication to fundraising.

"He went out in all weathers and on Poppy Day he was always the last one back in," she said.

Yesterday, Mrs Heward told The Northern Echo how she proudly wore her son's medal at his funeral in Consett Parish Church.

She said: "His last words to me were: 'Mummy, I will get better in time for my poppies, won't I?' It was his life."

He moved to the North-East aged 21 with his mother. Known as a hard worker, he was employed at Swalwell Iron Works, Consett Iron Company and the Coke Works.

During the past few years, he became a familiar face in Consett and Durham City on market days, working to erect and take down the stalls.

In his younger days, he attended the Villa Real special school, which he represented in the shotput, and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Disabled Olympics in France. He was a regular at Consett Steel Club and a champion whippet racer.

A passionate Sunderland fan, he had more than 30 club shirts and was dressed in one for his coffin.