Susan Boyle launches Scottish poppy appeal

Susan Boyle has officially launched this year's Scottish poppy appeal in Glasgow.

The singer said she was "very proud" to help the campaign because her father Patrick served in World War II.

Poppyscotland, the charity which runs the appeal, uses all the money raised to support Scotland's ex-service members and their families.

Last year a record-breaking £2.68m was raised during the Scottish poppy appeal, the charity said.

The launch event began with a performance from 80 members of the West of Scotland and Edinburgh Garrison Military Wives Choirs.

Around five million poppies and 8,000 wreaths are hand-assembled by 40 veterans with disabilities every year at Lady Haig's Poppy Factory in Edinburgh.

They are distributed across Scotland by about 10,000 volunteers.

Ian McGregor, chief executive of Poppyscotland, said: "These are hard times. We know that the Scottish public has been tremendously supportive of our work in the past.

"We know we're asking a lot, but we're saying please can we increase that sum because the need is still there. It won't go away.

"We have to be there for the long haul to support the Armed Forces and veterans community in Scotland."