A medley of music hall and marching songs performed by children as young as five have helped launch the 2018 Poppy Appeal in Carlisle.

Many of the 50 youngsters from the city’s Rocket Theatre Group were performing in public for the first time as they sang in The Lanes shopping centre.

They entertained crowds and shoppers with songs including “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” and “We’ll Meet Again”. Senior members of Denton Holme-based Rocket Theatre Group, aged up to 18 years old, also performed flash mob dance routines outside Debenhams during Saturday’s launch.

Among those watching were the Mayor of Carlisle, councillor Jessica Riddle; and Margaret Wadsworth, chairman of the Carlisle and Stanwix branch of the Royal British Legion.

Mrs Wadsworth is among the finalists in tonight’s Pride of Britain awards taking place in London. She was named Fundraiser of the Year for the ITV Border region earlier this month. The 73-year-old has helped sell £1m of poppies for the Royal British Legion to date with last year’s Carlisle Poppy Appeal raising a record £116,102.

Mrs Wadsworth said: “Thanks must go to all the people of Carlisle and district who are so generous. It is their generosity which gets us to reach that total.”

Rocket Theatre Group’s Wendy Boothman said: “The launch of the Poppy Appeal is a time for people of any age to take time out and remember what the previous generations have sacrificed for us all.”

The Royal British Legion (RBL) has answered over a million calls for help in the last year. It helps serving personnel, veterans, and their families. This year is 100 years since the end of World War One.

Judith Reay, RBL community fundraiser in Cumbria, said: “We all have a connection to the First World War and the Legion is encouraging every person in the UK today to recognise the legacy that generation left us.”