Old soldier Fred Bradley is stepping out with pride to collect for the Poppy Appeal for the last time – aged 93.

He has been faithfully volunteering to raise money for the Royal British Legion's campaign since he came out of the Army in 1946 – a total of 62 uninterrupted years.

But new blood is following in his footsteps in his home town of Carterton, as 33-year-old Emma Cheedy joined him on Thursday to raise money at the Co-op supermarket, in Black Bourton Road.

Mr Bradley, of Sycamore Drive, Carterton, said: "I've always thought it was important to give up time and raise money for the Poppy Appeal.

“We shouldn't forget what our armed forces have done for our country.”

He proudly wears his military medals, including the Italy Star and Africa Star, from the Second World War when he was in the Royal Engineers.

Mr Bradley is also proud of an Exceptional Citizen Award given to him last year by Carterton Town Council for his long service and active support of the town's branch of the RBL, including many years as its Poppy Appeal organiser.

His staunch support mirrors that of 83-year-old Betty Sowerby, who is again out on the streets of neighbouring Witney after collecting for the appeal for 60 years, and Jean Lloyd, from Kennington, who featured in yesterday’s edition, an RBL member since 1941.

Mrs Cheedy, the youngest member of the Carterton RBL branch, is full of admiration for Mr Bradley and glad to follow in his footsteps.

She said: "This will be his last year collecting for us and we think that he deserves praise.

"I’m collecting for my second Poppy Appeal and hope that I will be able to continue and maintain the high standard that Fred has set.”

Mrs Cheedy’s husband is in the RAF, based at Brize Norton, and is serving overseas at the moment.

She joined the RBL when she met current Carterton Poppy Appeal organiser Val Towns-end over tea and cake at a Women’s Institute meeting in the town.

She has already helped bring in money this year to provide support for families and dependants of serving members of the forces.

Her two sons, Rhys, four, and Dylan, six, also took part in a shortened version of the Great South Run in Portsmouth last weekend to raise £800 for the Carterton branch of the Yellow Ribbon Foundation.