PUPILS at Balksbury Junior School raised £86.50 by holding a 'poppy in the playground' event to support the British Legion's Poppy Appeal.

The children took silver coins and used them to cover the whole of the poppy, which had been placed on the floor in the school hall on Friday morning.

The school took part following a suggestion from the British Legion to turn a poppy from 'red to silver' as part of its annual appeal.

The final total raised will be added to the £44.47 collected by the school in the normal Poppy Appeal and sent to the British Legion. The money will go directly towards helping ex-service men, women and their families.