HOPES are high Haslemere is on track this year to raise more than the record £25,700 donated around the town to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, last year.

Michael Barnes, who has been the Poppy Appeal organiser for Haslemere, Grayswood, Critchmere and Shottermill since 2004, steps down this year although he will still be actively involved behind the scenes.

Mr Barnes joined his successor, borough and town councillor Jim Edwards, and supporters at Haslemere railway station, on Monday, to highlight this year’s appeal ahead of the official launch on Thursday, October 27.

Mr Barnes said: “More than £160,000 has been donated to the Haslemere appeal since I took over in 2004.

“When I started we had around 70 collectors and there are now more than 200 with 160 businesses involved, six churches and eight schools.

“Tesco and Waitrose have always been fantastic and this year they are joined by Marks and Spencer. They have all agreed to have collections and shoppers are always very generous.

“The collections at Waitrose and Tesco average £5,000 and our collectors at Haslemere station raise around £4,000.

“We have eight house-to-house collectors and they average £120 each. It all adds up and I’d like to give a big thank you to Haslemere for all its support.”

Mr Edwards said:“Michael will be a hard act to follow and I want to thank him for all his hard work and for staying with us. I was in the Army and, as an ex-soldier, this is a cause very close to my heart. I saw active service and I am honoured to be able to support comrades injured in action.”