HUNDREDS turned out in Doddington on Saturday to walk a mile and raise more than �700 for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

The idea of the ‘Mini March for Honour’ being held alongside a national event has been hailed as so inspirational that next year it could be rolled out across the country.

Villager Paula Knott came up with the idea as a way of getting all age groups involved in raising vital funds for the Royal British Legion. She put her suggestion to a meeting of the Doddington branch of the Legion Women’s Section and members thought it was a good idea. She asked all those taking part to pay �1.

Mrs knott who served with the RAF, was apprehensive about the number of people who would turn up on Saturday but after a story appeared in the Cambs Times she need not have worried - she believes it was around 300.

She said: “We started to lose count because so many turned up. It was such a relief when I saw all those people.

“We had people in their 80s and 90s, people in wheelchairs and mobility buggies, toddlers who had just started to walk and some in pushchairs. It was lovely to see all the children.

“It was such a great event that we are hoping it will become an annual event in the village and be bigger and better next year.”

Mrs knott was congratulated on her idea by the Royal British Legion. A spokesman said: “As far as we know the mini march in Doddington was the first of its kind and a fantastic idea. I personally contacted Paula to thank her for having such a great idea and getting the public involved in this way.

“Obviously we would encourage people to participate in anything like this and support our campaign, Next year, fingers crossed, we could be seeing mini marches up and down the country.”

While �740 has been raised from the march and donations, Mrs knott says she will continue to receive donations at her home, 38 Manor Estate, or they can be handed in at the village post office.

Nationally, servicemen from the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines are marching 250 miles - a mile for every British life lost in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001.