BUDLEIGH Salterton dug deep when remembering its war heroes, raising thousands of pounds for the Poppy Appeal. A record number of wreaths was laid at the town s memorial year - and the total collected for the appeal is expected to top �10,000.

BUDLEIGH Salterton dug deep when remembering its war heroes, raising thousands of pounds for the Poppy Appeal.

A record number of wreaths was laid at the town's memorial year - and the total collected for the appeal is expected to top �10,000.

Contributions already stand at �7,600 and money continues to pour in, Poppy Appeal organiser Glenn Sismore-Hunt said.

"It was a really good appeal this year. We had lots of support from the Cadets and the Royal Marines from Lympstone," said Mr Sismore-Hunt.

"We have already collected �7,600, that's without counting the collection boxes and extra donations.

"We hope, once it's all in, it will be over �10,000, which is an increase on last year."

Since Budleigh Salterton's Remembrance Service, the town's Poppy Appeal committee has been battling against the elements to safeguard the wreaths.

Many of the 31 tributes were damaged by the gales - some were blown into the sea, while others ended up in the Lime Kiln car park.

Some were picked up by residents and left at St Peter's Church, while Mr Sismore-Hunt found a pile on his doorstep.

Many of the recovered wreaths have been damaged beyond repair.

To combat the problem, the committee is waiting for a delivery of wooden crosses to replace the lost wreaths.

"Everything seemed to go swimmingly until the wind got up," said Mr Sismore-Hunt.

"We will put the crosses in the ground and will have crests put on them, just as they were put on the wreaths.

"The people who laid the wreaths are going to be disappointed they were damaged, but there was nothing we could do.