A rare look inside GCHQ to launch poppy appeal

It's a top secret organisation but GCHQ in Gloucestershire opened its doors for a special event to mark the start of the poppy appeal.

More than a thousand staff took to the courtyard in Cheltenham to create a giant human poppy.

The idea to create the giant human poppy came from staff at GCHQ. It took 1,400 GCHQ and military staff, 1,300 red ponchos and just over an hour to create it.

It's the first time the organisation has ever held such an event. The idea coming from a request to help launch the poppy appeal by the Royal British Legion in Gloucestershire. Ian Corbitt from the Royal British Legion tells us more:

It's one of the most secretive organisations in the world but GCHQ in Cheltenham opened its doors to help launch the poppy appeal. 1,400 members of staff formed a giant human poppy in the courtyard of the famous listening post. It came after a request for help from the Royal British Legion in Gloucestershire.