EACH year the Royal British Legion's North Tawton branch presents the Bill Dadds Poppy Appeal Shield to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the Poppy Appeal — though this year, a shop has won the prize.

The shield has usually gone to one of the branch's poppy collectors.

This year, the branch has decided to give the award to North Tawton's Spar shop.

Neil Hallam, Poppy Appeal organiser for North Tawton and branch president, said: 'This is in recognition of the consistently large amount of money which they collected for the Poppy Appeal.

'This year over the period of the 14 days in November 2014 they collected £258.59 — over the past three years they have collected a total of £640.16 which is a very good effort.

'The total amount raised in the North Tawton district for the Poppy Appeal 2014/2015 so far is £2,578.'

Members of the branch presented the shield to the shop on March 13.