Volunteers of all ages have come forward to help with this year's Poppy Appeal following a rallying cry from the Evening News.

Organisers have today praised the 'brilliant' response from people across Norwich ahead of the appeal's launch in the city on Saturday.

The charity had sought to recruit new volunteers after it struggled to carry out collections in the city centre last year.

But Lyn Hatch, community fundraiser for Norfolk, said around 20 people had signed-up after this newspaper appealed for volunteers.

'As a result of people offering to come and collect, we will be able to do so much more this year,' Miss Hatch added. 'It has been wonderful.'

And she is now hoping that people living in the Fine City will dig deep and donate to the appeal, which is run by the Royal British Legion.

The influx of volunteers has meant that almost all of the city's major supermarkets will be manned during the two-week appeal.

A number of street collections will also take place, and there will be more staff helping at the pop-up shop in Castle Mall.

However, Miss Hatch said she was still seeking additional helpers to assist with collections at the Morrisons store in Catton.

This year's new recruits are said to be of all ages, with some travelling as far as Cromer and Aylsham to help out.

Bob Davison, 70, from Tasburgh in the south of Norwich, will be volunteering at the charity's pop-up poppy shop.

He said: 'I have a family history of service, from my great grandfather, who was in the First World War, right up to my son, who was in the RAF.

'And this is just my way of helping those who served.'

While the Poppy Appeal will be officially launched nationwide today, a separate launch takes place in Norwich on Saturday.

If you would like to volunteer, call Lyn Hatch on 07795426529 or email lhatch@britishlegion.org.uk