A WEST Devon youngster has been given a special birthday honour of starting the charity Poppy Run next week on her 11th birthday.

Alice Brimacombe, from Horrabridge, will start the event, which will see people running 11.11 miles at 11.11am on 11.11 in a bid to raise £1,111.11 for the Royal British Legion.

The Poppy Run, organised by Derek Hicks, of the Bere Alston Trekkers, will start at the RAF Harrowbeer memorial site in Yelverton and will visit four other memorial sites in Crapstone, Horrabridge, Walkhampton, Sheepstor and Meavy, at which runners will pay their respects.

Runners from all over the South West will be taking part in the run, from ages 43 up to 73.

Alice said: 'I'm very excited about it as it's my birthday and I'm really pleased to be starting the race. I know a few people running in it too.'

It was one of the runners, a friend of Alice's grandparents, who suggested she could start the race.

Derek said: 'Because we couldn't get a bugler as they are all busy with remembrance services at that time, we thought having Alice start the race on her 11th birthday was an excellent idea.'

Alice goes to Lady Modiford's Primary School in Walkhampton, and as the route goes past the school, the pupils and teachers will be out supporting the runners as they go past.

'Walkhampton School will be supporting us as we go past and Horrabridge and Meavy schools will do the same. The schools said they would put out cakes and drinks for the runners.

'Local pubs and clubs have been very supportive of the event and Dartmoor Brewery even donated a barrel of beer.'

Alice's mother Liz Brimacombe said she was proud of Alice and will be supporting her on the day: 'Her great great-grandfather got a military medal and we have lots of military links. The school will be out supporting the runners and they are having a mufti day to help raise money.

'We'll look at whether we can get to any other of the memorials but we'll be back at Walkhampton for when they run past.

'It's a lovely thing for her to do. Obviously, there's only a limited number of people who have a birthday that falls on a date like that and for it to be Poppy Day is even more special.'