Poppy Appeal collectors say they'll soldier on despite townspeople threatening to boycott the collection in protest against the loss of Calne's Royal British Legion Club.

The Legion backed out of a deal to buy the £225,000 Conservative Club building in Church Street, saying the renovation costs far outweighed the sale price.

Since then people have told the poppy sellers that they will boycott the November appeal because the money will not be used to buy the club. But the Legion says that it is all a misunderstanding.

Geoff Procter, who has been a poppy seller for three years, said: "The Royal British Legion and the Poppy Appeal are separate things.

"The appeal money does not go towards buying club buildings but helps former and active service personnel with welfare problems."

The Poppy Appeal supports people who fought in the two world wars and in the many conflicts since 1945, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr Procter added: "It would be a great shame if the appeal was to suffer because of this misunderstanding."

John Ireland, Calne Legion chairman, is appalled at the thought of a boycott.

He said: "I would be devastated to learn that hundreds of ex-service personnel would suffer because of a strike against the Poppy Appeal.

"Appeal money is spent on nothing other than services to benefit ex-serviceman and active personnel and it is those people who would ultimately suffer."

A spokesman for the Royal British Legion headquarters at Pall Mall said: "The Royal British Legion is very grateful to the people of Calne for the money they raise during the annual Poppy Appeal.

"We use this to help many people in the local ex-service community, like providing electric scooters to enable the less able people to be more independent.

"After careful consideration of the financial implications the trustees of the Royal British Legion have been unable to proceed with the purchase of Calne Conservative Club on the basis that the investment required would be in excess of the valuation of the property after the investment.

"They considered that the risk to charitable funds was too great for it to be an appropriate investment.

"This is not related to funds raised through the annual Poppy Appeal."