PENARTHIANS have raised £23,000 for the 2016 Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal it has been revealed - pushing the figure for the past five years combined well above £100,000.

The appeal, which takes place every November, saw a grand total £23,133 raised last year.

It follows £27,000 in 2015, £33,000 in 2014 and £12,077 which raised by the cadets alone for the 2013 appeal.

The appeal if the legion's biggest fundraising campaign of the year nationwide and involves people buying and wearing a poppy on their chest as a symbol of remembrance for those killed in conflict.

Last year, the legion asked people to "Rethink Remembrance", by remembering those who are serving today and not just those who have served in the past.

It also saw the poppy caravan return to the town centre, and Pizza Pronto again adorning the entire outside of their hut with the symbols.

The popular pizza takeaway raised more than £500 for the appeal through their pizza for donations campaign which they ran from both their Penarth and Cardiff Bay bases.

Owner Kevin Halborg is a former army commando who served in Afghanistan.

He said Penarth is always very supportive of the appeal.

"It has a sense of community that I've been overwhelmed by many times," he added.

"A core component of this community spirit is its generosity when it comes to charitable support.

"When you add an element of pride that the poppy appeal represents you have the perfect combination that Penarth savours with passion.

"This is highlighted in the generous support.

"Our visual take on the poppy appeal was initially a personal tribute to the fallen, but I now feel it is something that Penarth as a community has ownership of and rightly so.

"It has been a pleasure supporting something so close to my heart with the help of such an amazing community.

"Thank you, Penarth."

Volunteers, shop owners and residents were all involved in raising as much money as possible for the cause during the month long campaign.

The legion organised the traditional Remembrance Day event on Friday November 11, and a Remembrance Sunday parade.

A short ceremony with a hymn, a reading and a two minute silence was held on Windsor Road on the Friday, near the poppy caravan.

Then, on the Sunday, representatives from the armed forces, cadets, RNLI, coastguard, scouts, schools, and St John's Ambulance, joined councillors, politicians and residents for the annual Remembrance Day parade which made its way from Station Approach to the Garden of Remembrance at Alexandra Park, before a service at All Saints Church.

Richard James, from the Royal British Legion in Penarth said: "We are most grateful to the people of Penarth and district for their generosity towards this very worthwhile cause."