The Royal British Legion could be losing out on at least £10,000- worth of donations because Swindon Borough Council has only granted the organisation a four-day street licence to raise money in the town.

In other parts of Wiltshire, Dorset and Sussex the Legion has been given eight days to make its collection. Mr Baker said: "We are doing quite well with collections at the moment but if the council could give us more time, we would appreciate it because it would mean we can collect more money.

"We have to work hand in glove with the council, because it says how many days we should have and it has been good to us in the past. But it would be nice if we were given more time."

The 65-year-old former Royal Navy veteran said his targets for collection had risen every year since he started as the poppy appeal organiser ten years ago.

He says his collecting target of £25,000 could be doubled if collectors were given more time.