Jade Mandara, the partner of a serving soldier, has paid tribute to the work of the Royal British Legion at the launch of the 2012 Poppy Appeal.

"They've been there with me through the hardest time in our family life," she said.

Adding: "They're my angels and they've helped us a great deal."

The Royal British Legion spends £1.7 million a week on care and support for military families, including grants, employment advice and funding, emotional support, tribunal and inquest advice, care homes and family breaks.

This year they have increased their appeal target to £42 million, they raised a record £40 million last year.

The act of observing a two-minute silence each year on November 11 began in 1919, following the Armistice agreement at the end of WW1.

Poppies will go on sale from Saturday until November 11.