Help for Heroes benefits from woman’s special poppy appeal

Help for Heroes is one of the beneficiaries of a woman's own unique poppy appeal, which has so far raised £1,100.

Marlene McCann has crocheted 800 scarlet flowers and sold them in memory of her son, who was a member of the Royal Engineers and was tragically killed in 1999, reports the South Wales Evening Post.

She has previously made poppies for herself, but was this year inundated with requests so decided to supply them to others.

Of the £1,100 raised, Help for Heroes has been given £600 and BanglaCymru – a charity that pays for cleft palate operations in Bangladesh – has been handed £500.

"My son was killed in the army 14 years ago – every year since then I have given money in Robert's name," Ms McCann explained.

Lance Corporal Robert Porte was on a diving training course in Cyprus when he became the victim of an unfortunate boating accident.