AN INSPIRATIONAL fundraiser has now raised a staggering £1m for the Poppy Appeal.

Margaret Wadsworth, 73, topped the milestone thanks to the 2018 appeal - and the generosity of people in and around Carlisle.

Earlier this year Margaret, from Stanwix, was named ITV Pride of Britain 2018 Fundraiser of the Year in recognition of the years of service she - assisted by her husband Colin - has given to fundraising for the armed forces.

At the time she had raised £922,000 for the Royal British Legion (RBL) but, thanks to a mammoth £100,000 raised in last month’s Armistice centenary month, her total has now topped £1m.

Margaret said: “When Colin came out of the forces he started to volunteer for the legion, so I decided to help out, and we’ve just worked as a team ever since.

“The generosity of the people of Carlisle is remarkable, and without them we wouldn’t have raised so much money.

“They really have taken the Royal British Legion to their hearts.”

Judith Reay, RBL community fundraiser for Cumbria, said: “We’re in awe of Margaret and Colin and their amazing efforts supporting the Poppy Appeal - to reach £1m in a decade is incredible.

“The Royal British Legion is the nation’s largest Armed Forces charity providing care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces, past and present, and their families.

“We rely on amazing volunteers like Margaret and Colin to allow us to deliver this vital support.”

Earlier this year, Margaret and Colin also received Rotary International’s highest award for their fundraising efforts.

Despite the epic achievement, the couple are determined to keep going - and remain ambitious in their plans.

Colin said: “We have no intention of slowing down – the aim now is to raise another £1m for the Royal British Legion.”