HUNDREDS of knitted poppies made by dedicated volunteers have been raising funds and awareness for this year’s Poppy Appeal – as people are urged to give what they can to the cause.

The League of Friends at Dorset County Hospital have been busy knitting poppies to sell in the hospital shop, located on Level 1 of the North Wing.

This year’s Poppy Appeal is dedicated to the memory of the fallen and the future of the living – and the Royal British Legion states that the appeal looks to the future as well as honouring the past.

Sharon Merritt, manager of the League of Friends at DCH, said a team of 30 volunteers had been working hard to knit the poppies, with approximately 500 poppies sold so far.

She added: “We have been raising money for the poppy appeal for the last 15 years; our chairman started the fundraising but he passed away a couple of years ago so I took it on from then.

“The special thing about the poppies is because each one is knitted individually by volunteers they are all different; I think people like that individuality.

“We are asking for a suggested donation of £2 per poppy and they have been selling very well, which is brilliant.

“A massive thank you must go to everyone who has donated to the appeal so far, and all our volunteers who have spent hundreds of hours knitting these poppies.

“One of our volunteer’s friends has knitted 200 poppies for us – everyone’s efforts really are appreciated.”

The DCH League of Friends has 200 volunteers and 73 volunteers are needed every day to keep the voluntary organisation going.

Teams of poppy sellers have been out on the streets of Weymouth over the last week and will be in Weymouth all this week close to Debenhams.

This weekend cadets from Budmouth’s Combined Cadet Force will be in Asda collecting, and the Scouts, Guides, Cubs and Sea Cadets have also been helping out with the appeal.

The Poppy Appeal was launched in the county with a special event in Dorchester. For more information about the Poppy Appeal visit britishlegion.org.uk