A Second World War veteran has said it is "terribly sad" that a longstanding poppy appeal could be scrapped in the borough if a leader is not found to head the project.

Last year the Malden and Coombe Poppy Appeal raised £35,000 for the Royal British Legion but this year the total could be zero if no one is found to spearhead the campaign.

The Royal British Legion provides help and support to serving and ex-service men and women as well as their families.

Major Ron Morris, 86, who was about to leave his home for an operation in hospital when he spoke to the Surrey Comet, said: "I think it is terribly sad in this day and age none of the younger generation are coming forward to help.

"All the people last year were elderly – over 50 – mostly in their 60s and 70s. The younger generation are not coming forward to help us.

"I am not hopeful they will find somebody. There is a chance but I could not say I am hopeful."

Former organiser June Fairclough who has been in the role for five years will be stepping down from the poppy appeal due to illness.

She said: "People are so lovely when you are collecting. It is very rewarding. I thoroughly enjoyed doing it.

"I have been doing it for a while and it is a lot of work. The person who was going to do it has backed out so we are back to where we started."

She said it would be ideal to find somebody by August at the latest in order to go through the official paperwork and be set to raise money by November.

St James ward councillor Ken Smith said: "We do not have a Poppy Appeal organiser and unless someone comes forward and offers to help we cannot sell Poppies either at static points or in the shops.

“The branch do not want Malden and Coombe to let all the veterans old and young who need our help to go without.”

In 2011 the Surrey Comet were involved in a campaign headed by a small army of ex-servicemen to restore a vandalised war memorial before Remembrance Sunday, which led to an 11th-hour victory.

To get involved with the Poppy Appeal in Malden and Coombe contact the news desk on 020 8744 4244 for more information.