Six-year-old poppy seller from Bradford launches the 2026 Poppy Appeal and receives a poppy made from Spitfire metal

Ivy Knighton-Leake began collecting with her father Steve Knighton, 41, after spotting the stalls and asking: 'can I have a poppy shop?' He served six years in the Royal Signals, and the Royal British Legion helped him adjust to civilian life. At the Manchester launch, Pte Katie Brazier, 22, handed Ivy the Spitfire poppy. This year's appeal aims to raise more than £50m.

Ivy says her dad is 'funny, caring, kind and bad at story time'.

Steve Knighton says he is 'unbelievably proud' of his daughter.

Three more Spitfire poppies are going to forces families in North Wales, Shropshire and London.