WOMEN working for the Poppy Appeal have been urged to carry on collecting following controversial plans by the Royal British Legion for a merger that would close its Women's Section.

The Oxfordshire county Women's Section, which oversees eight county branches, will officially close on September 17 as a result of the proposed changes, according to its chairman Suzie Hazell.

Several Women's Section branches across the country – which have nearly 30,000 volunteers helping collect money through Poppy sales – have closed in protest at the legion's proposal to incorporate the section into the charity's main organisation.

"There have been tears over this and I think the whole thing has been badly handled by the RBL trustees," said Ms Hazell.

She was also chairman of the Stadhampton branch until it closed in February last year after the proposals emerged.

She said: "I don't want women to stop collecting for the Poppy Appeal over this and if Women's Section branches want to continue then I think they should be able to do so, but they will have to report to the men.

"There are about 200 women in the Women's Section in the county and thousands across the country.

"Some of the Women's Section branches have just half a dozen members but others have many more - Woodstock and Kidlington have very healthy memberships.

"I have been collecting for the Poppy Appeal for 36 years and this won't stop me."

RBL county chairman Lynda Atkins said there were women's section branches in Chipping Norton, Harpsden near Henley, Kidlington, Kidmore End near Sonning Common, Littlemore, Marston, Witney and Woodstock.

She added: "If women have been hurt by this they should put it to one side and carry on collecting - it's a huge shame that so many women have been hurt and upset by what has happened.

"The Women's Section branches very much run themselves and do an awful lot for the Poppy Appeal but there hasn't been enough consultation.

"Most will carry on regardless but some will not get involved any more because they feel they have been badly treated.

"I would urge women to carry on collecting for the Poppy Appeal, no matter how upset they are."

Jean Hollis, 75, from Woodstock, was Poppy Appeal organiser for 14 years until she retired last year.

She remains secretary of the town's Women's Section, which has 56 members.

Mrs Hollis said: "As far as I'm concerned we will carry on as before - women shouldn't let this row put them off collecting for the Poppy Appeal."

A spokesperson for The Royal British Legion said: "It remains vitally important to integrate the Women’s Section into the main body of the organisation to comply with charity regulation and governance arrangements."

The merger is due to be complete by October 1, 2017.

In 2014/2015 the Poppy Appeal in the county raised a record £560,475.17, to support injured servicemen and their families.