Ivy's pride at being youngest Poppy Day collector

Ivy with veteran and fellow collector Colin Robinson

A five-year-old poppy seller has been described as an "inspiration" for her dedication to helping the Royal British Legion.

Ivy Knighton-Leake, from Bradford, is thought to be the youngest volunteer supporting her local branch ahead of Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.

Proud dad Steve Knighton, a former Royal Signaller and liaison officer for the Dog & Gun Wibsey Veterans Group, said it was the second year his daughter had taken part in the fundraising drive.

Meanwhile, Ivy said it made her feel "happy" collecting for the appeal, saying she started because she "wanted to remember the soldiers".

(From left) Shivam Limbachia and Jenny Northrope from Tesco, veteran Colin Robinson, Ivy and dad Steve Knighton

Mr Knighton said: "Ivy actually asks to volunteer. It was all her idea. She wanted to come and sell poppies and have a little shop.

"Last year she started doing that and we've continued this year.

"We normally do about an hour, an hour-and-a-half, depending on how Ivy's feeling or a bit longer if she's feeling OK."

Gillian Carr, Poppy Appeal Manager for Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees, said: "Ivy is quite an inspiration.

"At four years old last year [she] was our youngest in the area to volunteer at our stalls.

"Generally we start at around 18, but we do have our cadets and they starts at around 16.

"Ivy's such an inspiration, it's not all about the grown-ups. She's looking to the future."

Poppy Appeal Manager Gillian Carr who remembers helping her veteran father Ronnie collect for the appeal when she was a child

Mr Knighton, who now works for Bradford Council, will be alongside his daughter at their local Tesco supermarket in Buttershaw throughout the half-term holiday.

He said: "It's important that we hand this over to our next generation as we all get older.

"I'm quite a young veteran myself but I think it's important that we inspire young people to get involved and to help and to support and to continue the good movement on."