THE Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal was given the support of an honoured veteran at its launch in Durham this week.

Captain Richard Annand VC, of the Durham Light Infantry, joined the Mayor of Durham, Coun Ray Gibbon, and local Legion officials at Monday's launch event at the Town Hall.

Capt Annand was awarded the Victoria Cross for outstanding gallantry in the face of the enemy during the retreat to Dunkirk in the Second World War. Despite his own injuries and German fire, he rescued his batman in a wheelbarrow from behind enemy lines.

Capt Annand will be at the Town Hall at 11am on Tuesday next week, his 89th birthday, for the two-minute silence.

Both the Mayor and Capt Annand will also be attending Sunday's Remembrance Day service at Durham Cathedral, at 10.15am, followed by the march past and salute of the parade of veterans in the Market Place.

Jeff Lodge, Royal British Legion national council member representing Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire areas, said the appeal raised £10,000 in Durham alone lone last year.

A stall will sell poppies outside the Town Hall over this week.