BOLTON'S Mayor officially launched this year's Poppy Appeal and urged more people to support the Royal British Legion's annual fundraising drive.

Cllr Alan Wilkinson, said: "It's very important not to forget the sacrifice made by many Bolton men. Families lost their fathers, sons and brothers.

"There is still a need for the money raised by Poppy Day and I would urge Bolton people to keep on supporting it.

"It would also be nice to see more members of the public coming to support Remembrance Day."

Bob Longworth, secretary of Bolton's Royal British Legion, who presented poppies to Cllr Wilkinson and his wife Denise, said: "It's up to the RBL to not let people to forget to buy poppies.

"It's good that more and more people seem to be supporting the two minute silence.

"It is difficult to explain to teenagers the importance of the appeal, but I'm glad to say schools in Bolton always support the cause very well."

Cllr Wilkinson's daughter, Helen, will be returning home from York University to lay the wreath at the Remembrance Service held at Christ Church, Walmsley, in Egerton, which her father usually does.

In his role as Mayor, this year he be will marking the Armistice Day commemorations by laying a wreath at Victoria Square, Bolton, on Sunday, November 12.

Last year, the national poppy campaign raised more than £2m countrywide -- £9,000 of which was collected in Bolton.

The RBL supports both ex-service people and their families and dependants and has helped more than 15 million people affected by conflicts from the First World War through to Bosnia, the Gulf and Northern Ireland. Cllr Alan Wilkinson and wife Denise with Bob Longworth, Bolton British Legion branch secretary Ref H4261/9