The people of Bradford are being urged to pick up a poppy and donate some of their free time to support the Royal British Legion this autumn.

This year’s Poppy Appeal officially starts on Saturday, and last week the Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Abid Hussain was presented with the first poppy at City Hall by fundraiser Barbara Allsopp.

Now, poppy sellers will be out in force across the district ahead of Armistice Day on Saturday, November 11.

Colin Robinson, chairman of the Bradford branch of the Royal British Legion, said the charity’s “dedicated core” will be out across the district selling poppies and delivering donation boxes. However, he said an appeal earlier this year for more volunteers had proved unsuccessful.

He said: “Unfortunately not many people come forward to help.

“We have a dedicated core of volunteers but we are all not getting any younger and are finding it harder to fill spots in supermarkets or delivering boxes. There may be some gaps in supermarkets because we don’t have the bodies, so we would appreciate any help from people, even if it’s just one or two hours sitting in a supermarket.”

Volunteer Barbara Allsopp will be at the launch of this year’s appeal at the Kirkgate Centre on Saturday on behalf of the British Legion.

She will also be in the centre on Armistice Day on behalf of the Legion, when the three winners of the Kirkgate’s Bradford Young War Poet will read their pieces in the centre from 10.45am.

The deadline for entries is Wednesday, November 1, and entries must be sent to press@kirkgateshopping.co.uk.

Bradford’s annual remembrance services will take place on Saturday, November 11, and Sunday 12, at the Bradford war memorial in Morley Street.

A short service will be held at 11am on the Saturday, followed by the Remembrance Sunday service at 11am on the Sunday.

Services of remembrance will also be taking place at other war memorials around the district.

Ahead of Armistice Day, the annual Festival of Remembrance will be taking place at Bradford Cathedral on Sunday, November 5, from 5pm to 7pm.

There will be performances by the City of Bradford Brass Band, mezzo-soprano Claire White-McKay, and the cathedral choir, along with the traditional parade of standards and acts of remembrance.

Free tickets for the festival can be booked at bradfordcathedral.eventbrite.com or by calling 01274 777720.

An exhibition telling the story behind the Cathedral’s First World War memorial window is also opening on November 5, which is dedicated to the Prince of Wales’ Own West Yorkshire Regiment.

It has been organised in collaboration with the Bradford WW1 Group and photographer Paula Thompson-Fearnley.