A BREAKDOWN in communication left Budleigh Salterton s Poppy Appeal feeling snubbed after organisers thought the town s Co-op shop was refusing to support the fund.

A BREAKDOWN in communication left Budleigh Salterton's Poppy Appeal feeling snubbed after organisers thought the town's Co-op shop was refusing to support the fund.

Poppy Appeal organisers Glenn and Caz Sismore-Hunt were left confused after receiving a letter, saying the company was backing this year's fund - but were told 'no' when they approached the shop, offering a collection box.

But now the town's Co-op has donated �200 to the town's Poppy Appeal, saying a breakdown in communication was the cause of the refusal.

Mrs Sismore-Hunt said: "That is fantastic. We are delighted and would like to say 'thank you' to the Co-op."

In the lead up to Remembrance Day, Mr and Mrs Sismore-Hunt worked tirelessly, approaching every shop and business, offering Poppy Appeal collections boxes.

Confident the High Street Co-op would accept a box after receiving a letter from the firm's head office backing the charity, the couple were shocked when their request was turned down.

Refusing to be thwarted by a single attempt, the store was approached by appeal volunteers on several further occasions, but without success.

Mrs Sismore-Hunt said each time the volunteers drew a blank at attempts to discuss the matter with the manager.

She said Poppy Appeal volunteers were told he was unavailable whenever they requested a meeting to present their case.

Co-op this week apologised to the town's Poppy Appeal and the High Street store has donated �200 in a bid to make amends.

A Co-op spokeswoman said: "We did not deliberately prevent the British Legion from displaying a poppy collection tin in our store. However, there was a breakdown in communication and our staff did not relay a message to the store manager.

"We apologise for any offence caused and would like to assure the British Legion and our customers that the Co-operative is a strong supporter of the Poppy Appeal every year.

"As a gesture of goodwill, the Co-operative store in Budleigh Salterton will make a donation of �200 to the appeal."

Budleigh Salterton's Poppy Appeal total now stands at �8,000 - a record amount which is set to rise as funds continue to pour in locally.

* Comment on this story at www.exmouthjournal.co.uk