Police have been banned from putting poppies on their cars in a move which has 'gone down like a cup of cold sick' with officers.

British Transport Police have told their officers not to use the poppy stickers on their vehicles ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armistice which ended World War I.

Police chiefs were concerned about singling out one charity over others and feared the stickers were not official.

But Colonel Richard Kemp, who commanded British troops in Afghanistan, said the ban had 'the stench of political correctness all over it'.

Police have been banned from putting poppies on their cars in a move which has 'gone down like a cup of cold sick' with officers

Assistant Chief Constable Sean O'Callaghan told officers it would 'not be doing the right thing' to prefer the Royal British Legion over other charities, The Sun reported.

One BTP officer said that people 'seem to be forgetting what these blokes died for' while another said the ban had been received 'like a cup of cold sick'.

Many of the officers upset about the British Transport Police decision were said to be former members of the armed services.

A BTP spokesperson said: 'It is important to stress that British Transport Police supports the Royal British Legions Poppy Appeal. Each year, officers up and down the nation attend Remembrance Sunday events, in memory of those who died.

'However, we were concerned that stickers placed on some of our cars were not official Poppy Appeal merchandise.

'Because of concerns regarding where the money for these stickers was ending up, we took the decision to not place these Poppy stickers on BTP vehicles.

'We fully recognise the sacrifices made by all armed forces colleagues, therefore we will always permit officers and staff to wear the traditional Royal British Legion poppy on their uniform.'

British Transport Police have told their officers (file photo) not to use the poppy stickers on their vehicles ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armistice which ended World War I

Earlier this week Cambridge University came under fire after members of its students' union rejected a call to celebrate Remembrance Day next month.

Attendees at the Cambridge University Students Union (CUSU) meeting on Monday rejected a motion for the commemoration of 'all those whose lives have been affected by war across the University of Cambridge'.

The controversial move came after various amendments were made, including crossing out the phrases 'British war veterans', 'Remembrance Day' and 'Poppies'.

The UK will mark 100 years since the end of the First World War with a procession of 10,000 civilians past the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day.

Those taking part will pass to Whitehall and have the chance to lay wreaths at the foot of the Cenotaph.

The event will be followed by bell ringing by churches across the country to echo the actions of British citizens 100 years ago.

The procession and bell ringing will take place on November 11 after the national service of remembrance and the march past the Cenotaph by the British Legion.