They have been carefully created to help support a worthy cause.

And while it may have taken about four months, a record amount of hand-knitted poppies are now on sale.

Popular Pakefield fund-raiser Zoiyar Cole has been working overtime with family and friends to crochet more than 2,000 poppies for this year's Poppy Appeal. For the past three years, Mrs Cole has knitted the poppies to be sold in aid of the Royal British Legion's (RBL) annual appeal to support wounded veterans. And now, after a record amount were crocheted this year, they are on sale in more outlets than ever before.

Over the years, with the help and support of fellow fundraiser Janet Ellis, Mrs Cole has raised more than £315,000 for deserving charities through the Paul Cole Cancer Fund, which was set up in memory of Zoiyar's son, who tragically died from liver cancer aged just 35.

Mrs Cole's friend Avril Rickarby, 84, who worked with Zoiyar and Janet Ellis for five years in the Jazos charity shop that they used to run in south Lowestoft, has also created a blanket by using the poppies and joining them together. This will be on display in her local church, and funds will be raised separately.

Mrs Cole said: 'This year I have had some help from my friends with crocheting the poppies and I seamed all the backs. We also had plenty of donations of wool, which has really helped.

'My daughter Angela Rowe and my friend June Honeywood have been fantastic – I can't thank them enough for all their help.'

The crocheted poppies will be on sale at various shops for a minimum donation of £1.

They are available from the following: Co-operative food stores in London Road South, Kirkley; London Road, Pakefield; Westwood Avenue, Lowestoft; Ashburnham Way, Carlton Colville; Hillside Road, Bungay; and Church Plain, Loddon. They will also be on sale at the Carlton Colville Service Station; Dixons newsagents in Ashburnham Way, Carlton Colville; Rosedale Surgery in Ashburnham Way, Carlton Colville; Claremont Pier, Kirkley; Coconut Loft, in Waterloo Road, Kirkley; Spring Tide restaurant in Hornhill, Kirkley; M.R.King in Hornhill, Kirkley; Eastcoast Pharmacy in Clifton Road, Kirkley; Nationwide Building Society, Palmers Department Store and Beales Department Store all in London Road North, Lowestoft and the post office and store in Pakefield.

Mrs Cole added: 'Hopefully more than £2,000 will be raised, but we still want people to support the poppy sellers in town.

'I would like to thank all the shops for taking them in and selling them, the poppies are going to Bungay and Loddon this year.'

? Mrs Cole is also appealing for help with her next challenge. She is after donations of yellow wool as she works on Easter chicks to be created for next year. If you can help, please call 01502 513573.

? Are you raising money for this year's Poppy Appeal? Tell The Journal by calling 01502 525820 or email lowestoft.journal@archant.co.uk