THE Gourock woman who has spent the last four years tirelessly organising the local Poppy Appeal is stepping down and searching for a successor.

Christine Love, 53, started volunteering for Poppy Scotland in 2012 after seeing a poster asking for people to give up some time to help.

Since 2015 she has been co-ordinator in Greenock and Gourock, making sure schools and businesses had poppies delivered and organising collections in the area.

She says it will be a wrench to give up the role and is encouraging someone to follow in her footsteps.

Christine said: “With work and other commitments it is just not possible for me anymore.

“I have had to try and drum up volunteers, contact schools and local businesses to see who would like to take a tin, drop the poppies and tins off, collect them back in, organise collections and count the money.

“I am loathe to give it up because I love the fact that I was helping to make a difference to the lives of veterans.

"The money raised here does come back and help people locally, often giving them a hand up and a new start.”

Last year's appeal raised £15,134 and Christine says the people of Inverclyde are so generous towards the cause.

She said: “The people in Inverclyde always support the appeal.

“We tried to drum up some volunteers for the appeal one year and many people who were unable to give up their time, stopped and gave me donations instead.

"The donations are very much appreciated but we also need people to give up some of their time to help.

“My main concern is that Inverclyde won’t have any poppies next year."

Christine is hoping to stay on as a volunteer and help whoever takes up the role.

She said: “I would love to stay on as a volunteer and help the new co-ordinator in any way I could.

"I am happy to speak to anyone who is interested or wants to find out more.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers who have helped me over the years.

"There wouldn’t be an appeal without them and I can’t thank them enough.”

This year's appeal is still running and Christine is looking for volunteers to help collect poppies and tins and spare a few hours to assist the 49F Air Cadets and the Greenock & District Battalion of the Boys' Brigade with collections.

Anyone able to help is asked to email chrissie451@hotmail.co.uk