A former soldier is hoping poppy donations will be higher than ever after a photo of him fundraising for servicemen and women outside Tooting Broadway station became a hit on Facebook.

Bill Champion, 94, has been selling poppies for the British Legion outside the underground station for 22 years.

November 2014: Bill Champion unveils Wandsworth's giant poppy in remembrance day events

Neighbouring stallholder Danny Tucker put a photo of him on Facebook asking for support from his friends and was shocked when it reached more than 100,000 shares from as far away as New Zealand and Australia.

Mr Champion said: "It's become a bit of a joke with my family.

"I get a ribbing.

"But I think they're proud of me."

The post was first spotted on Facebook by one of Mr Champion's three daughters who lives in Streatham.

Wandsworth Times:

Mr Champion said: "People come up to me to ask for photographs.

"It has helped with the collections."

Mr Champion was born in Hammersmith and raised in Wiltshire.

He served in the Second World War in the 14th army and moved to London afterwards, marrying a 'London girl' and settling in Tooting.

He has three daughters and a son and remains active at 94 years old spending time in his garden, or out fishing.

Instigator of fame, Mr Tucker used to see Mr Champion when he started working in Tooting aged 16, and Mr Champion always told him he would 'be back next time'.

He said: "We always tell him to sit down and get him a chair but he won't.

"You see him smile when he shares pictures of him with the Queen.

"It was on 9,000 shares in 24 hours.

"Then by Saturday and Sunday it was 50,000."

Mr Tucker's post, in which he said Mr Champion "amazes him" is now at 106,600 shares.

He said: "People come up and they've recognised him from Facebook. He wags his finger at me when they say they've seen him.

"Someone came from Birmingham and another guy from Dagenham to meet him and have their picture taken."

"I could not believe it, people say to me that it has gone berserk.

"One of his daughters said thank you to me which was nice but I never did it for me.

"It is still going. Every time I look there's more."

Taken a selfie with the amazing Bill? Share your pic with us or tell us why he's so great below by emailing letters@wandsworthguardian.co.uk