TWO people will appear before court today charged in connection with a number of poppy collection tin thefts.

Roma Taylor, 51, of Cedar Avenue, Tiptree, was charged with 16 counts of theft of collection tins belonging to the Royal British Legion.

Anthony Archer, 53, of Ongar Road, Writtle, was charged with 17 counts.

The thefts were across Essex including Colchester, Chelmsford, Brentwood and Heybridge.

Both will appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.