A military charity has taken over a shopping centre unit, selling poppies and other items ahead of Remembrance Day.

Ashford's Royal British Legion branch has worked with the council and Park Mall this year to set up a pop-up shop, selling a range of accessories and crocheted goods to boost the fundraising effort.

Among the items are pins, handmade bracelets and masks and scarves printed with poppies.

Ashford's branch secretary Nikki Cain hopes to use the former One You unit to boost this year's Poppy Appeal fundraising in the town, which reached more than £40,000 in 2019.

She said: "The reason we're here this year is because I wanted a shop, and I made enquiries before Covid.

"I was told if there's an empty shop, I can use it - so here we are.

"We moved in last Friday and we're open every day until Saturday, November 7.

"It's been steady but it's been hard getting the word out because we were given such short notice that we could move in.

"People weren't expecting us to be out this year with the poppy appeal.

"The support we've had in Ashford over the years has been amazing, and it's a shame that Covid has stopped us from doing all the exciting events we had planned for this year."

Ms Cain highly praised Lynn Taylor and Tracey Golding of Funky Fashion Jewellery and Accessories, an Ashford-based business which has strongly supported the campaign.

The company donates a fraction of all its sales to the poppy appeal, and the pair are volunteering at the pop-up shop.

She also highlighted the work of volunteer Karen Moore, saying "she's a stalwart of the Poppy Appeal, and I couldn't do any of it without her".

"She's a massive help at every event we hold - she's an absolute star," Ms Cain added.

She also thanked two local craftspeople who made and donated many items to the store.

Nikki - who's volunteered for the poppy appeal for the last five years - also thanked the hard work of Park Mall staff to ensure the shop could open.

The poppy appeal shop is open in the former One You unit in Park Mall from 10am to 4pm every day, staying open till 5pm on Saturdays.

Elsewhere in the shopping centre, the YMCA shop has gone all out on an eye-catching memorial display.

Featuring genuine uniforms and medals, as well as personal letters, postcards, bibles and pictures, shoppers can be seen stopping to look throughout the day.

A realistic-looking campfire with a helmet hanging above adds to the cinematic effect of the display.

The personal effects have been temporarily lent to the shop by Paul Jordan and Jill Knight.

The fate of many Remembrance services has been thrown into turmoil this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Not only are large gatherings discouraged, even the youngest serving veterans of the Second World War are in their nineties - firmly in the 'most at-risk' bracket for Covid-19.

Most Remembrance ceremonies this year, including Ashford's main service in the Memorial Gardens, are restricted to invitation-only access.

Dignitaries and representatives from each branch of the armed services will be in attendance and laying wreaths, as well as councillors, the mayor and selected veterans.

However there will be no procession, and wreath-layers will be asked to report direct to the Memorial Gardens.

The council is encouraging people to watch the ceremony through a live-stream, being hosted on the day via the Ashford Borough Council Facebook page.

To read about the Armed Forces and how they have served Kent and beyond, click here.

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