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A 100-year-old former soldier who survived a prisoner of war camp at Auschwitz is selling poppies for The Royal British Legion.

Ron Jones, who turned 100 on 30th April, volunteers for up to six hours a day at his local supermarket in Newport, south Wales.

The grandfather-of-two has been collecting for the Poppy Appeal since 1981.

He was called up to fight in 1940 and served as a lance corporal in 1st Battalion Welch Regiment.

Mr Jones was captured in Benghazi in 1942 and was transferred to forced labour camp E715, part of the Auschwitz complex.

After two years of being held at the camp, he was forced to join the "death march" of prisoners across Europe in 1945.

He was eventually freed by American troops and finally returned to his wife Gladys in Newport in May 1945, weighing just 7st.

Mr Jones worked at the city's docks until his retirement in 1980, then began collecting for the Poppy Appeal the following year.

He told the Press Association:

"I've been selling poppies for about 30 years, I go down to Tesco every year for a fortnight, practically every day."

"I like to do a lot for the British Legion as we help dependants, we help the boys coming back from Afghanistan.

“If they need help, I'm there. I've made as much as £15,000 occasionally but normally we get up to nine or £10,000."

When asked whether he would ever retire from his role, Mr Jones replied firmly: "No".

The pensioner admitted that he has become "a bit of a celebrity" at the Tesco on the Harlech Retail Park where he sells poppies.