VILLAGE poppy appeal organisers are celebrating a bumper total from this year's collection.

Pittington Royal British Legion's (RBC) appeal covers neighbouring Sherburn and the communities of Belmont, Carrville and Gilesgate, on the outskirts of Durham.

The efforts of the RBL and its volunteers raised £4,439, more than £1,200 more than last year's total.

Money from the poppy appeal goes towards the RBL's work helping ex-servicemen - including war veterans - widows and families.

Appeal organiser Bill Fenwick said: "There are only a few of us who run the appeal and we are short of volunteers, so it really is an excellent result. I don't know whether events in Afghanistan contributed.