HAMPSHIRE'S poppy appeal got off to a flying start when a Beaver plane flew over the grounds of Winchester Cathedral and dropped poppy petals.

Among those covered in the flowers - famous for growing in Flanders fields where the horrific trench battles of the First World War took place - was Mary Fagan the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire.

Hundreds gathered to watch the spectacle presented by the Royal British Legion standard bearers and a Piper and Bugler.

Among the war veterans present was George Louth, 102, from the 15th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment. He was the sole representative from those who had fought in the conflict.

He survived going over the top at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 to get married on Armistice Day in 1918.

In launching the appeal Mrs Fagan said: "I'm very conscious personally of the debt of gratitude that my generation and my daughter's generation owe to those who fought for us."

She also personally thanked Mr Louth, from Leigh Park, Portsmouth, for all that he had done.

The Hampshire branch of the British Legion hopes to raise £600,000 from this year's appeal.

County field officer of the branch Bill Stevens said: "Many people are under the impression that we only help very old people but with recent wars in the Falklands, the Gulf and Bosnia, 30 per cent of those we assist are under 40."

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