A ROUTE march undertaken by Royal British Legion members Geoff and Nancy Jones has had a handsome payoff.

The couple put their best feet forward to walk from Cinderford – where they are Legion members – to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. In doing so they raised over £780 in sponsorship for the Legion's 90th Anniversary Appeal.

The six day hike, carried out during one of the hottest weeks of the year and, as far as possible, along canal towpaths, was completed in combat gear. Along the way Geoff and Nancy stayed in local pubs.

At the Arboretum they were met by Cinderford legion colleagues.The group laid a wreath on the REME memorial – Geoff's old regiment.

The Anniversary Appeal was given a further boost last month when a dance at the Miners' Welfare Hall raised a further £652 – making a total of £1,440.

•Cinderford's total for the Poppy Appeal was a new record at £8,449.68.