Old soldiers who feared being left in the cold when a city centre store banned them from collecting for their annual Poppy Appeal can shake their tins again - thanks to the Evening Mail. Members of the Birmingham branch of The Royal British Legion had been allowed to collect cash for the appeal for the past 15 years at Marks & Spencer in High Street. But Ted Swann, co-ordinator of the Legion's Poppy Appeal for Birmingham, said when he wrote to the store asking for permission to collect again this year, he was shocked to be told no. The in-store collection normally nets the appeal hundreds of pounds every year, but the letter said there would be a blanket ban on all charity collectors. The 70-year-old ex-Royal Signals soldier, of Yardley Wood, said: "We've always had a good relationship with the store and were provided with a table and a chair to use to collect for the Poppy Appeal near the doors where customers could see us. "Most people who do this collecting are elderly and getting on in years and can't afford to be standing outside for hours on end in the cold, especially in today's society as the boxes could just be ripped out of their hands. "The public have got a lot to thank ex-service people for what they did in two world wars, especially the last one." The move was a further blow to the Legion as it has also been told it cannot collect inside the Pallasades shopping mall this year, although centre chiefs say it is just while refurbishments are carried out and they can return next year. When we contacted Marks & Spencer bosses in London they said they were shocked at the move. It said it actively encouraged such collections but added what happens in individual stores is at the discretion of the store manager. Now, following the Mail's intervention, the decision has been reversed. An M&S spokesman said: "We are sorry to the British Legion for any confusion caused and would welcome them back in our Birmingham store." Legion supporters will now be allowed to collect in store for the Poppy Appeal between November 8 to 13. Mr Swann thanked the Evening Mail: "We are pleased and appreciate they have reversed this decision following the intervention from the Evening Mail." Click here to tell us what you think | 
