A CHARITY-MINDED councillor has thanked to the people of Inverclyde for raising a four-figure sum for the fallen.

Graeme Brooks, who this year was the Poppyscotland ambassador and area organiser for Greenock, was full of praise for generous locals after they raised over £7,000 for the veterans' charity.

To combat the fact people are spending more time indoors, hitting can collections - as well as people not carrying cash to stop the transmission of coronavirus - a JustGiving page was set up to help generate funds for this year's appeal.

The Conservative councillor said: "While the final total has not yet been confirmed, I have projected that overall the Greenock Poppy Appeal this year will raise about £7,720.

"Interestingly, rather than the coins you would normally find, 17 people donated a £20 note, 29 people gave £10 and a total of 88 £5 notes were found in the tins.

"With hospitality venues closed, there was just no way of knowing how the appeal would go as that is where the bulk of our tins are normally located.

"Despite this, the total has more or less matched the 2019 appeal."

Tesco, Morrisons, Argos, Sainsburys and local schools were all involved and also were able to raise just under £4,000 between them.

Local scouting groups also threw their weight behind the campaign, with the 5th Greenock & District Scouts making and selling paracord poppies - and raising £200 in doing so.

Graeme is keen to recruit more volunteers to get involved in the local effort next year.

He added: "It'd be great if people wanted to come onboard and distribute the cans then go and collect them in again. We always need as many pairs of hands as we can muster.

"Fingers crossed everything will be back to normal and we can have another successful year in 2021."

To get in touch with Graeme to provisionally sign up to help with campaign next year, call 07983367166.