Volunteers across Wales celebrated as the Poppy Appeal marks its 100th year anniversary

Volunteers are being celebrated across Wales as this year marks 100 years of the Poppy Appeal.

Many Welsh towns have a high proportion of families who have relatives in the Armed Forces, compared to the rest of the UK.

Volunteers play a big part in the Poppy Appeal within local communities and the Royal British Legion is celebrating their contribution in this centenary year.

A group of 70 people have been helping out this year for the Poppy Appeal in Rhyl, North Wales.

One volunteer, Lin Bedward, said, "I'm a military family, going back both grandfathers, father, mother, brother, son, grandson is no training".

"I do feel veterans need looking after, after they've left the army. I've had experience of the trauma with them and a lot of friends that I know have suffered and the British Legion supply that support."

Poppies represent the lives lost in all conflicts, from the beginning of the First World War to the present day. Credit: PA

Margaret Elliot is another volunteer who has been helping out in the lead up to Remembrance Day. She said she has been "moved by the stories" she has heard.

She added, "All week it's been the same. People telling stories about their loved ones, how they've lost them. It's just been amazing and people have been so generous."

"I have been absolutely at the generosity of people here".

Wearing a poppy is a show of support for the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.

It represented the lives lost in all conflicts, from the beginning of the First World War to the present day.

The poppy also acknowledges innocent civilians who have died in conflict.

Poppies continued to grow in their thousands after countrysides were blasted during the First World War. Credit: PA

Richard Kendrick, Poppy Appeal organiser in Rhyl, believes it's important to remember the current soldiers as well as previous ones.

"Especially now with the younger veterans with PTSD and other things. We need to not just remember the ones before them, but to remember the ones still here."

The poppy is red because that is the natural colour of the poppy.

When countrysides were blasted during the First World War, the poppy would continue to grow back and flourish in their thousands.