The Royal British Legion’s Truro branch raised £59,776 – a record amount - for this year's Poppy Appeal between October 1 and December 12.

In supermarkets, Waitrose raised £11,345 via cash and contactless payment; Tesco £11,230; Sainsbury’s £11,179, and Lidl £3,404.

On the streets, £7,407 was taken by collectors, with £630 by contactless payments. Elsewhere, £10,388 was collected in tins; school packs raised £3,265, wreaths £488.

Anne Kemp, vice chair of the British Legion in Cornwall, said: “We are so grateful to everyone who contributed, whether in time, money or encouragement. With nine months until the end of the Poppy Appeal financial year, there’s time to pass that magic figure of £60,000. Every penny goes to those in need.”