POPPY Appeal collections in Otley have raised nearly £4,800 - despite the challenges of the pandemic.

Local Royal British Legion volunteers could not fundraise as they normally would for the appeal this year cue to the wide-ranging impact of COVID-19.

But local appeal organiser Shirley Vincent is still pleased with how they fared during what has been an extraordinarily difficult year for all charities.

She said: “We were allowed a certain amount of poppy boxes this year due to the virus and couldn’t collect in the supermarkets because of social distancing.

“We would like to thank shops, pubs, cafes and schools who took our boxes as well as the people of Otley for supporting us with their donations.

“We had to cancel our second Buttercross stall due to new safety rules but we still managed to raise £4,762.03.

“I also understand that Waitrose will be making a very generous donation to the appeal and that Sainsbury’s had poppy boxes at their tills.

“Thank you to everyone!”