ABSEILING troops, giant flowers and an enormous truck were all part of the fun at the Hampshire poppy appeal launch.

The event at the WestQuay centre in Southampton attracted hundreds of curious onlookers while an electric string band played James Bond-themed music.

Poppy petals dropped from the ceiling as shoppers applauded the Royal Marines’ acrobatics and chatted to Royal British Legion (RBL) fundraisers.

Staff sergeant Ross Adamson, a representative of the armed forces at the event, said: “We’ve got the guys down and set up a stall, and the rest of them are insideWestQuay collecting for the appeal.

"It’s been great and the donations are going well.”

The RBL aims to ensure the memories of those who fought and sacrificed their lives in the British Armed Forces live on through the generations.

Its welfare work includes helping British armed forces, veterans, and their families to live on to a more hopeful future. Over the last 12 months it answered 450,000 calls for help and the money it raises goes to the legion’s work with veterans and serving personnel.

This includes innovative dementia care, theatre recovery projects, world-leading research on blast injury studies, and legion-owned seaside break centres.

Dave Moore, from the RBL, said: “This year we want everyone to uncover the story behind the poppy and learn how your donation helps today’s armed forces community.

“The legion does amazing work with the children of current Forces families all through the generations to veterans of the Second World War.

“Most people are familiar with the poppy are a symbol of remembrance, but its original meaning was also one of hope for the future.

"Hope to live on in more positive and independent lives after going through tough times, and it is hope the Legion provides."

to those in the armed forces community.”

The legion’s motto is “Live On - to the memory of the fallen and the future of the living” and it is currently the nation’s biggest armed forces charity provider for care and support.

For more information or to donate visit www.britishlegion.org.uk.