British National Party supporters must make an extra effort to assist the national Poppy Day appeal as poppy-sellers to help avert the worker-shortage crisis for that charity, BNP leader Nick Griffin has said.

Reacting to the news that the future of Britain’s Poppy Day appeal is in crisis amid fears that a dire shortage of volunteers could bring an end to the annual fundraising campaign, Mr Griffin said it was part of the BNP’s mission to preserve and honour all those heroes who had sacrificed for this country.

“As this forms part of the reason for our existence, BNP supporters should, wherever possible, step in and become active in the Poppy appeal as sellers and assistants,” Mr Griffin said.

General volunteer numbers have dropped by up to 80 percent, putting the future of the appeal in doubt. Officials at the Royal British Legion (RBL), the charity behind the campaign, and former soldiers say youngsters no longer care about the sacrifices troops have made.

A RBL spokesman said: “The number of volunteers is declining. People who have done the job for decades reach a certain age and are no longer capable of doing it. Ten years down the line even more of the elderly volunteers are going to pass away so we desperately need to replace them.

“Many young people think we’re just associated with the world wars and they’re not affected by it. We support the veterans from the Falklands and those currently serving, or those that have served, in Afghanistan and Iraq.”

The Legion was founded in 1921 to support veterans of the First World War and their families. It has a membership of 400,000, making it one of the largest organisations in Britain. Its 800 branches mark Remembrance Day with fundraising events. They rely on unpaid help to sell poppies and to canvas support from the public and businesses, usually with door-to-door collections.

Funds raised go towards assistance to ex-servicemen, women and their dependents. They also go a long way in providing advice, including pension claims and appeals, and employment support for disabled veterans.

Anybody who can help the Poppy Appeal should contact the RBL co-ordinator on 01622 717172.