Since the 2019 Poppy Appeal launched on October 24, a veritable army of Royal British Legion volunteers have been busy collecting donations in train stations, schools and shops in every corner of the UK.

The appeal is due to end on Armistice Day when the end of First World War 101 years ago is marked nationwide with a silence at 11am.

Money raised from donations and poppy sales goes towards providing support to serving and ex-serving members of the British Armed Forces, as well as their families and dependents.

But how many veterans — and potential beneficiaries of the appeal — are there in Swindon?

The Government does not keep a comprehensive record of all armed-forces veterans living across the UK, so it is difficult to arrive at an exact estimate.

However, the Ministry of Defence does publish a variety of statistics which give an insight into the veteran population in the area.

According to the 2011 census, Swindon is home to an estimated 4,477 working-age veterans — those aged between 16 and 64.

That’s around three per cent of the overall population of the town, one of the highest proportions in England and Wales.

Of these, 90 per cent were men and 10 per cent women.

The Office for National Statistics is planning to collect more comprehensive information about veterans in the next census which is due in 2021.

This is intended to help the Government, councils and NHS services plan support for veterans and their families, in areas such as health, housing and employment.

A total of 2,374 people in Swindon have received some kind of armed forces pension or compensation for injuries caused by their service in the armed forces, according to MoD statistics up to March.

Of these, 2,245 are veterans, with the remainder made up of family members or personnel who are still in active service.

The War Pension scheme was a compensation programme for armed forces personnel who were killed or suffered injuries or ill health as a result of service, from the start of the First World War up to April 2005.

It consists of a weekly or monthly pension, or lump sum.

In Swindon, at least 424 veterans had received compensation or a pension under the scheme as of the end of March, according to the latest figures, as have 52 widows and widowers.

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme replaced it in 2005.

To date, 83 veterans and 75 serving personnel in Swindon have received compensation under it.

This consists of a lump sum, with an additional ongoing payment for more serious cases.

Dependents who have received compensation because of the death of a veteran are not included in the figures.

Members of the armed forces who have served for at least two years are entitled to a pension once they reach retirement age.

In Swindon, 2,038 people currently claim a military pension.

Around one in eight working-age veterans in England and Wales say their day-to-day activities are limited because of a disability, according to the 2011 census.

In Swindon, 220 veterans - five per cent -said their activities were limited a lot, and 370 - eight per cent - said they were limited a little.

Overall, 150 veterans aged under 65 - three per cent - said they could not work because of a disability.

A spokeswoman for the Royal British Legion said life in the armed forces brought unique challenges both during and after service.

She said: “We offer support in a number of ways including providing crisis grants, researching the changing impact of blast injuries on the body, lobbying the government on key issues, specialist dementia care, sport and art-based recovery programmes, and advising on benefits and money problems.

“We are here 365 days for any member of the Armed Forces community that may need our help and support.”