A 96-year-old war veteran is on course to raise £1,000 for the Poppy Appeal.

And the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) is also doing its bit ahead of Remembrance Day by displaying the bright red emblem on its ambulances across Kent and Medway .

At 18, Raymond Grose, who lives at Pembroke House nursing home in Gillingham which is managed by the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust, was called into service for the D-Day operation.

Beginning his journey at Arromanche, he travelled through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany and years later was awarded with the Legion of Honour.

He has seen many service people come out of conflict changed by what they have seen and felt the support was needed as "they would have done the same for us."

He initially set himself the goal of raising £400 for the appeal.

A JustGiving page was created to help with fundraising efforts and in just under a week he had double that amount. The fund currently totals £809.

SECAmb is adding poppy stickers on ambulances across the trust's fleet in Kent, Sussex and Surrey.

A further 12 vehicles will feature a larger design on the side.

The trust's chief executive Philip Astle said: "The poppy is a symbol of our remembrance to those, civilian and military alike, who have died in wars over the years.

"We will remember them all and the poppy wraps on our ambulances are a visual sign of that remembrance.

"Of course, the ambulance service continues to have strong links with the armed forces with many staff, including myself, having had previous careers in the forces and others continuing to serve as reservists.

"I would like to thank our fleet department for arranging the specially-liveried vehicles.

"It's sadly the case that this year, the many public gatherings which would have taken place cannot because of the pandemic.

"I am glad we are able to show our support in this way and I know many staff will support the Poppy Appeal, Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day privately."

The Strood Community Project shop, in the High Street, has marked the occasion by creating a display in its shop window to commemorate those who have fallen, as has A2 Barbers in Gillingham, which is collecting donations in buckets before lockdown.

To donate to Ray's fund, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway