RESIDENTS are being asked to 'rethink Remembrance Day' and consider all those currently in the armed forces community.

This year the British Legion hope to raise £251,000 in Herefordshire which will help vital work delivering practical, through life care and support to the Armed Forces community.

In the last year the generosity of the British public helped the legion answer more than 780,000 requests for help. The legion uses donations to offer support in many ways including providing crisis grants, researching the impact of blast injuries on the body, lobbying the government on key issues, and advising on benefits and money problems and much more.

This year's poppy appeal was recently launched by Champion Jockey Richard Johnson at Hereford Racecourse where spectators will be urged to wear their poppy with pride at the next meeting on October 31.

Rebecca Davies, Executive Director at Hereford Racecourse said: “We are very proud to be supporting the 2016 Poppy Appeal in recognition of the outstanding contribution that so many men and women in the Armed Forces make to our country.

"We hope that racegoers will dig deep, wear their poppy with pride and give generously to the collection at exits.

“Service can come in many forms from being parted from family and loved ones for long periods of time, to physical and mental injury, and sadly making the ultimate sacrifice.

"The legion’s role remains as contemporary and as vital as it has ever been supporting today’s generation of service personnel, veterans, and their families whether living with an injury or illness, coping with bereavement or finding employment.

"The legion’s work is entirely dependent on the public’s generous support – so please wear your poppy with pride, knowing that you are helping the Armed Forces community to live on.”