DEDICATED fundraisers have been rewarded for years of service to the Royal British Legion.

Volunteers with a combined total of 590 years work for the Poppy Appeal in Egremont were honoured at a special ceremony.

Cumbria’s High Sheriff Richard Lee presented 23 volunteers from Egremont, Beckermet and Moor Row with badges and certificates.

“It went very well, the guest of honour Richard Lee thanked everyone for all their work and what a help they have been,” said John Edwards, who organises the Poppy Appeal for Egremont British Legion.

“All of these people have been out collecting for years, getting people to go around collecting is hard to do now.”

John’s role includes ordering all the poppies and wreaths, distributing the poppies and collecting the donations boxes. In Egremont, they have around 140 collection boxes each year.

Among those rewarded for their hard work were Fred and Eileen Maginnis, from Egremont, who have both carried out 40 years of service.

Awards were presented to five volunteers who have managed to dedicate 35 years to the appeal.

While a further five people were recognised for spending 30 years collecting funds.

The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal helps provide thousands of modern veterans, servicemen, women and their families with vital advice and support.

It created the Poppy Appeal to help those returning from the First World War.

Wearing a poppy commemorates the sacrifices of our Armed Forces as well as supporting our current servicemen.

The full list of award winners includes: 5 years - Mr Pullin; 10 years - Mrs Ivison, Mr Needham and Mr Flitton; 15 years - Mrs Murphy; 20 years - Mr Walls and Mr and Mrs Cook; 25 years - Mrs Robson and Mr and Mrs Eilbeck; 30 years - Mrs Head, Mrs Dickinson, Mrs Nicholson, Mrs Edwards and Mrs Hodgson; 35 years - Mr Edwards, Mr and Mrs Dixon, Mrs Simpson and Mrs Graves; 40 years - Mr and Mrs Maginnis.