THE Poppy Appeal crisis in Winchester has been averted at the last minute after the Army marched in to save the day.

The potential financial disaster arose when the organiser resigned and no one could be found to replace him to co-ordinate the Royal British Legion's annual collections.

It meant Winchester, with its historic military heritage, was the only area in Hampshire without a collection leader and left the city facing the threat of no collection for the first time ever.

However, late last week, the Royal British Legion received a call from Army chiefs at the Adjutant General's Corps in Winchester to say they would step into the role.

The soldiers based at the Worthy Down Barracks will take on the organisation role for one year and are also promising to re-structure the collection process to make it easier to arrange in coming years.

They agreed to step in after being contacted by city MP Mark Oaten who had read in the Daily Echo about the crisis.

Mr Oaten said: "When I read last week that there was a problem I was very disappointed and decided to give the Army a ring.

"I'm absolutely delighted that they have now agreed to help out because we should never let the memory of the wars and those who fought in them be forgotten."

The annual Poppy Appeal was first held on November 11 1921 as a way of marking the hundreds of thousands of British soldiers killed during the First World War.

Today the annual appeal raises more than £50m a year for the legion, who work with ex-service men and women and their families to offer support in times of need.

Colonel Shane Hearn, county field officer for the British Legion in the south, said: "I'm absolutely delighted because we were facing a real crisis which would have been an appalling thing to happen in a city with as much military history as Winchester. It's a great relief."

Colour Sergeant Budhiman Thapa who will take charge of the organisational task, said: "I'm very happy and proud to take on this task and hope it will make a real difference to the money raised in the Winchester district."