Prepare to support a Pop-Up Poppy Shop as annual Poppy Appeal gets underway in Hitchin.

A pop-up shop supporting the work of the Royal British Legion's annual Poppy Appeal has opened in Bancroft - with volunteers welcome.

The Hitchin Property Trust have kindly loaned the Hitchin branch of the British Legion the use of 11 Bancroft as a 'Poppy HQ and temporary pop-up poppy shop - but volunteers are required to help out such a worthy cause.

Organisers told Hitchin Nub News: "There are currently a small amount of volunteers, and we would welcome any one to visit the pop-up poppy shop to volunteer for an hour or more.

"It sadly feels that we as a nation are starting to forget the horrendous price that has been paid for our freedom in the First and Second World Wars, and since, by those few that has answered the nations call, 'for your tomorrow's they gave their today'.

 The launch of the Royal British Legion's annual Poppy Appeal marks the start of the national period of remembrance when the nation wears the poppy to remember the service and sacrifice of the armed forces.

Hitchin Army and RAF cadets are once again supporting the appeal and will have a stall in the in Market Place this Saturday, November 3 and Sunday, November 4, as well as collecting around the town centre.

While Lt Kavanagh has, with the aid of Chevron Traffic management, been granted permission for a parade to St Mary's Church Hitchin on Remembrance Sunday, which will include elements of Hitchin's own Royal Anglian soldiers based on Bedford Road, the Army and RAF cadets.

All funds raised will be used by the legion to support veterans and their families.

This year's poppy is the first redesign of the iconic symbol of remembrance in 28 years. There have been more than 10 official versions of the poppy since 1921 - from hand-crafted red silk versions with wire stems in the 1920s to cardboard 'austerity' poppies during the Second World War.

The Royal British Legion (RBL) said the design and material has been in development for three years. Around 50 per cent of the fibres used in each poppy have been recovered from the waste used in the production of coffee cups.

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For more information visit the Hitchin Poppy Appeal website