THE Darlington Branch of the Royal British Legion received donations totalling more than £65,00 in response to this year's Poppy Appeal.

This figure is a 30 per cent increase on the sum reported at the same time last year.

Branch chairman Ray Jeffery described the £65,071 total as an incredible achievement, considering all the other worthy causes that have been asking for charitable donations at the same time, not least the Ebola outbreak.

Mr Jeffery has thanked all the businesses, shops and factories that collected for the appeal, including Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, which allowed collectors to stand in store for the two weeks leading up to Remembrance Sunday.

He added: "Also to the collectors from the Legion, the Royal Signals Association, the Parachute Regimental Association, the Association of Wrens, the cadets and many other volunteers who gave up their time to stand in the stores and streets.

"There have been some outstanding efforts made by the public this year.

"Sue Elliott-Lyall sewed sequins on 365 paper poppies – one for every day of the year leading up to the commemoration of the start of WW1 – and thereby raised £1,825.

"Many groups have been sewing or crocheting poppies to raise funds and I’m sure there have been other individual efforts to help.

"However, the biggest thank-you of all must go to the generous residents of Darlington, and surrounding area, who have donated.

"The Poppy Appeal is an ongoing appeal, from October 2014 to September 2015, and if anybody is looking for a worthy cause to raise funds for, we are more than happy to meet with you."

The Darlington branch meets in the Cleveland Bridge Club, in Neasham Road, on the fourth Wednesday of every month. All are welcome.