ALTHOUGH this year’s Poppy Appeal total is down on 2014, a rules error by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) isn’t being blamed.

The 2015 Poppy collection by Petersfield Royal British Legion (RBL) has raised getting on for £27,000; last year £33,000 was collected to help former Servicemen and women.

Petersfield RBL chairman Commander Clive Lewis RN, retired, said: “We are very pleased with this year’s collection, very pleased.

“The fact we could only collect for a week this year rather than two weeks as we have done, didn’t affect the total at all.

“I think last year’s exceptional amount was due to it being the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One.”

In previous years more than 40 RBL Poppy sellers have been able to collect for about two weeks – but only because of an oversight.

An EHDC spokesman said: “In previous years, additional collection days have been granted to the Royal British Legion in error and we apologise for the confusion this may have caused.

“However, this has now been identified and we are now operating within the regulations.

“It is also worth noting that these regulations only relate to street collections.

“We do not regulate private premises so shops and supermarkets can allow collections to be held in their property as they wish.

“We really value the Poppy Appeal and the work it does for ex-Servicemen and women.”

Of the total collected this year, £230 was raised through the sale of knitted and crocheted poppies made by members of Cranford Estate Residents Association.

Association chairman Jeanette Nunn said: “We raised more than last year and we are very pleased.

“Winton House in High Street let us sell them there, which was very kind.”

Each year Petersfield RBL organises the Remembrance Day parade, co-ordinates the local Poppy Appeal, and arranges the Armistice Day commemoration on November 11.

Cmdr Lewis said: “The support of the town was overwhelming for the Poppy Appeal and both events.”

Remembrance Day saw hundreds attend the parade, open air service in The Square, and the wreath laying at the war memorial in High Street.

Cmdr Lewis said: “The Armistice service at the war memorial was well attended.

“And it was moving to see how many people took part in the two minute silence.”