SHE has helped sell poppies for more than 60 years. Now campaigner Pamela Fagan has been rewarded for her efforts by Royal British Legion bosses.

Mrs Fagan joined other supporters of the annual collection to launch the Dorchester Poppy Appeal 2005 and was presented with a long service medal to mark all her hard work over the last six decades from the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Captain Michael Fulford-Dobson.

Mrs Fagan, 88, said: "I first started collecting for the poppy appeal when I was 17, and although I have a had a few years off we have worked out that I have sold poppies for 67 years."

She said her first husband Geoffrey York was killed in France just after D-day while serving as a major in the Army and his death inspired her to keep collecting.

"It's my memorial to him. I still collect now if I can and I will continue to do so for as long as I can. I always sport my own poppy and I think that encourages others to give, it's important that they continue to do so," she said.

Other Poppy Appeal supporters from the county town to receive awards for their unstinting service to the Poppy Appeal included Dorchester Town Councillor Leslie Phillips, former Dorchester mayor John Antell.

Other recipients of medals included Peter and Pam Seaton who have collected for the appeal for 45 years between them, Thelma Wills who has sold poppies for 35 years and Thelma Hiscock who has helped the cause for 45 years.

Howard Fairman, field officer for the Roytal British Legion in Dorset, said it was still important that people supported the Poppy Appeal, which collects money to help ex-servicemen and women and their families.

Graham Rhys-Jones, co-ordinator of the Dorchester Poppy Appeal collection, said: "Some of the people who help have been doing this collection for a very long time.

"There are people in the town who have been doing it since 1944 and I think it's about time they were rewarded."

Mr Rhys-Jones, a writer of Naval history, is doing the Poppy Appeal for the first time, after taking over the reins from Georgina Wakely, the 22-year-old who stepped into the role following the death of her mother, Susan.

"I have been involved in fundraising in Dorchester before and have been a welfare case-worker, but this is the first time I have organised the appeal."

He said that he was still looking for more volunteers to help with the collection.

Anyone who would like to volunteer their services for Dorchester's Poppy Appeal, which runs for two weeks, should call Graham Rhys-Jones on 01305 265807.