MEMBERS of the Royal British Legion's Skipton branch turned out in force to welcome two Chelsea Pensioners to the town.

Army veterans Denis Shiels and Les Roper were invited to visit the area to boost the Poppy Appeal and were met at Skipton Castle by Legion branch president Keith Wright and vice-president Barry Blood.

They were given a tour of the town centre, resplendent in their iconic scarlet tunics, by Mr Blood, then visited Holy Trinity Church on Skipton High Street and met the rector, the Rev Veronica James.

Mr Shiels and Mr Roper then visited the High Street war memorial, before enjoying a complimentary roast beef dinner at the nearby Castle Inn.

Mr Blood said: "The Skipton Legion is very pleased and honoured to to welcome them both see our award-winning town, and branch members have been invited to visit the Royal Hospital in Chelsea next year.

"Mr Shiels and Mr Roper got a fantastic welcome as they walked among shoppers by the market stalls. They greatly enjoyed their dinner at the Castle Inn and we'd like to thank landlord Calvin Dow for providing it."

They were later guests of honour at the annual Poppy Appeal fundraising concert at Prince Henry's Grammar School in Otley, where they were entertained by the Royal Air Force Military College Band.

Mr Shiels was a long-serving member of the Royal Marines, which he joined as a boy Marine at the age of 14. As a member of 44 Commando he served in Hong Kong, Palestine, Tripoli, Malaya and Cyprus. In the Suez Crisis of 1956 he survived a 'friendly-fire' rocket attack. He later became an instructor.

Mr Roper grew up in Bradford and served in the Royal Signals regiment and the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, serving in the Middle East, Borneo and Germany with the British Army of the Rhine.

Chelsea Pensioners are residents of the Royal Hospital in London, a retirement home and nursing home for former members of the British Army, founded by King Charles II in 1682.