A Second World War soldier whose father fought in one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War helped to launch Bradford's Poppy Appeal.

Albert Gray, of Eccleshill, joined the Royal British Legion after the 1939-45 war and comes from a long line of soldiers. His father was also in the Army and fought in the Battle of the Somme, which claimed tens of thousands of lives in its first few days.

Mr Gray said: "It is a national event and it is the least we can do to help the soldiers who fought in war."

Mr Gray joined other members of the Royal British Legion, which organises the annual Poppy Appeal and Remembrance Day memorials at the Lord Mayor of Bradford's offices to get the fundraising underway.

The district's first citizen, Coun Choudhary Rangzeb, was presented with the first poppy of the 2006 appeal by Mr Gray and fellow Legion members from Bradford, Barbara Allsopp and Violet Holdsworth.

Last year the Bradford Central Branch raised £36,000 and the total raised across the district was £112,000. Coun Rangzeb said: "The British Legion is a great organisation, they do a fantastic job for the people of Bradford and Britain and we are really indebted to their hard work." The Legion spends more than £50 million a year providing welfare assistance to the former soldiers and their dependants.

Mrs Allsopp, Poppy Appeal Co-ordinator for the Bradford district, said: "If we had no poppy appeal, who would help the servicemen and their families? "

Around 10.5 million people are eligible for support and the Legion receives thousands of calls for help every year.

The national appeal was launched down in Covent Garden, London, by opera singer Katherine Jenkins. The 26-year-old Welsh soprano, dubbed the Forces Sweetheart' dazzled the crowds in a dress made of 2,500 poppies.

e-mail: ali.davies@bradford.newsquest.co.uk