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As many as 40,000 poppies have been sold in three weeks.

Ashford Royal British Legion believes the record demand is
because people are acknowledging the courage and sacrifice of
British forces in Afghanistan.

A total 20 boxes of 2,000 poppies each were snapped up by last
Friday , nine days before Remembrance Sunday.

Legion branch secretary Mike Wiggins said: “In my 12 years’
experience I have never seen anything like this.

“I think this comes from the huge public support for the bravery
of our forces in Afghanistan.”

The 40,000 sold already is the usual amount sold annually during
the Remembrance period in Ashford and its surrounding villages.

But Ashford RBL has now had to rush order another four boxes,
totalling 8,000 poppies, to keep up with demand.

It believes these could also sell out before Sunday and a third
batch will have to be ordered from the RBL’s poppy factory at its
Kent headquarters in Aylesford.

Last year’s Poppy Appeal in Ashford raised £24,458.78.

This year’s amount will not be counted until after November 11,
Armistice Day itself, but it is expected to far exceed the 2008
figure.