Alesha Dixon visits Shropshire soldiers for Poppy Appeal
Pop star and former Strictly judge Alesha Dixon visited a soldiers' rehabilitation centre in Shropshire to launch this year's Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
The singer and new Britain's Got Talent judge turned her hand to wheelchair basketball and archery during her tour of The Battle Back Centre at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, near Newport.
She also met hero solider Sapper Clive Smith, who is one of the faces of this year's Poppy Appeal poster campaign.
The 27-year-old, from Cannock, lost both his legs above his knee in an explosion in Afghanistan in 2010 and spent a week at the rehabilitation centre in April.
Alesha, who won Strictly Come Dancing in 2007 and later became one of its judges, said she had been impressed with what she had seen.
She said: "It was personally inspiring to meet the centre staff and participants such as Clive Smith.
"They put their necks on the line to give us all a normal life, and I'm glad to be giving something back to them by supporting the Poppy Appeal."
Sapper Smith said: "Taking part in activities like wheelchair basketball, rock climbing and bowling was great fun and really encouraged me to focus on what I could do, as opposed to what I couldn't do after injury.
"The Battle Back Centre has given me a positive outlook which has really helped in all parts of my life. It's humbling to know that the centre has been created because of the public's generous support."
