A NEWPORT war veteran who at 100 years old is the oldest poppy seller in the UK, says has no plans to retire.

Ron Jones, who turned 100 in April, has been selling poppies for more than 30 years.

The Auschwitz survivor, from the Bassaleg area of Newport, is once again manning the Royal British Legion stall in the Tesco Extra in Cardiff Road for this year's poppy appeal.

Mr Jones, who won the South Wales Argus’ Pride of Gwent Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year and will be presented with a British Empire Medal (BEM) next week, joked: “They will not let me retire. I am coming here most days for at least four hours.

“I do not mind, it gives me something to do. It is better than being at home watching the gogglebox.”

Mr Jones said the Poppy Appeal, which launched last week, is going well so far thanks to all the support it is receiving.

The Royal British Legion annual fundraiser raises money for servicemen and women, veterans, and their families.

Speaking about the attention his ongoing fundraising receives in the media, including television appearances, Mr Jones said he is “used to the attention”.

“I am a bit of a celebrity,” he continued.

Mr Jones' service to charity followed his military service overseas during the Second World War with the 1st Battalion of the Welsh Regiment in North Africa, before he was captured by Axis forces and made a prisoner of war for three and a half years.

Mr Jones spent the first year in Italy before being taken to Auschwitz. There he spent time in the work camp, where they worked 12 hours a day, six days a week, working on a plant that made synthetic petrol. He weighed just seven stone and was covered in lice when he was rescued by American troops.

Mr Jones now visits schools to tell children about his experiences.

Mr Jones is even now the subject of a documentary which has been five years in the making and is set to premiere online at midday on November 11 to watch or download, with at least £1 from every download going to the Poppy Appeal.

To find out more about the film, visit thunderclap.it/projects/64072-the-poppy-seller-ron-jones