VETERANS in Keighley were treated to a fish and chip lunch at the town’s Sainsbury’s supermarket.

A dozen ex-servicepeople sat down with staff a couple of days before Remembrance Sunday for a nostalgic chat over a meal.

The invitation from store bosses came after Sainsbury’s ran various initiatives to help support the Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal.

A spokesman for Sainsbury’s in Keighley said volunteers had been in the Cavendish Street store throughout November selling poppies and other items for the Royal British Legion.

She said: "We invited them for fish and chips to talk about their time in the war. Our colleagues enjoyed the veterans’ stories and it opened our eyes to what they did and went though.

“We really get behind the Poppy Appeal each year and our customers and colleagues continue to dig deep to help us raise as much as we can for the charity. We were really excited to welcome the collectors in store this year.”

Sainsbury’s, which described itself as the Royal British Legion’s leading supermarket partner, arranged for old £1 coins to be accepted by poppy collectors in its stores across the UK.

Customers are also being given an option to recycle their poppy after the appeal.

Until November 30 there will be a recycling collection points in the Keighley store, and all poppies donated back will be used by the Royal British Legion to either help make new poppies or be recycled.

The Keighley branch sold poppy-inspired products, with all profits going to the Legion.

The range included poppy jute bags, a tote bag, a travel coffee cup, two poppy mug designs, a tea towel, a key ring, a candle, poppy seeds and two flower bouquets.

Customers shopping in the week before Remembrance Sunday were able to order a stick-on poppy in return for a £1 donation to the Legion.

This year Sainsbury’s supported the Centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele through sales of a commemorative pin badge.

Sainsbury’s has supported the Royal British Legion for the last 23 years, and in 2016 customers and colleagues helped raise more £3.2 million for the charity.

During this year’s Poppy Appeal, the Royal British Legion invited the nation to ‘rethink Remembrance’ and re-consider the meaning of the poppy as a symbol of both Remembrance and hope.

Ben France, the Legion’s Head of Corporate Partnerships, said: “We’re extremely grateful to Sainsbury’s colleagues and customers for their support over the last 23 years.”