THIS year's Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal has been launched.

Events took place last Friday (October 27), at locations including Bradford and Keighley, to mark the beginning of the annual campaign.

In a district ceremony at City Hall, the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Gerry Barker, and Lady Mayoress Mrs Jean Barker received the first poppies.

Amongst those present were Barbara Allsopp and Larissa Lister, joint Poppy Appeal organisers in Bradford, and Gillian Carr, the appeal manager for Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees.

Councillor Barker said: "We are proud to again support this very important annual appeal which not only commemorates the sacrifices made by members of our armed forces and their families, past and present, but also funds the many services provided by the Royal British Legion to help these communities."

For more about the Poppy Appeal, and to get involved, visit britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/poppy-appeal.

As a salute to the armed forces, Keighley brewery Timothy Taylor's has relaunched its Havercake ale in cask and 500ml bottles.

Ten pence from every pint of cask ale sold will be donated to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

The ale was originally brewed to honour soldiers from the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, who were affectionately nicknamed Havercake Lads. The name is derived from oatmeal bread cake that was the staple food of the Pennine towns and villages where most of the soldiers lived.

Bottles of Havercake, exclusive to the Timothy Taylor’s webshop, will be available soon.

And the cask version will be on sale in pubs across the brewery's estate from Friday (November 3).