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Poppy seller forced to stand in rain by Wetherspoon staff

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A decorated poppy seller was forced into the pouring rain by a pub giant as he was standing too close to the building.

Pete West was sheltering under the concrete canopy of the Chevalier pub in Exeter city centre as he collected money for the Royal British Legion.

The war veteran was seeking refuge from the gales and lashing rain as he sold the poppies to nearby bus passengers.

Poppy seller .Pete West, 47, who was forced to stand in the rain - after a Wetherspoons pub manager told him he couldn't use the pub's concrete canopy.See SWNS story SWPLpoppy.Pub chain Wetherspoons has apologised after staff forced a poppy seller who was seeking shelter outside one of their pubs - to stand out in the rain.Pete West, 47, was selling the Royal British Legion's decorative poppies to passers-by as the heavens opened.To stay dry, Pete stood under a concrete canopy which forms part of The Chevalier pub in Exeter, Devon.But the manager of the pub came out and told Pete he wouldn't be able to stand there as they didn't have a license.

Pete West was forced to stand in the rain after a Wetherspoon pub manager told him he couldnt use the pubs concrete canopy (Picture: SWNS)

However he was told to move out into the pouring rain by the manager of the JD Wetherspoon pub.

Some drinkers were so angered by the actions of the manager they abandoned their drinks and walked out.

Pete had been sporting a string of medals he earned as a military driver in the Transport corps.

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The 47-year-old joined the military in 1991 and served for 21 years in Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan.

The Chevalier pub in Exeter, Devon, where poppy seller Pete West, 47, who was forced to stand in the rain - after the Wetherspoons pub manager told him he couldn't use the pub's concrete canopy.See SWNS story SWPLpoppy.Pub chain Wetherspoons has apologised after staff forced a poppy seller who was seeking shelter outside one of their pubs - to stand out in the rain.Pete West, 47, was selling the Royal British Legion's decorative poppies to passers-by as the heavens opened.To stay dry, Pete stood under a concrete canopy which forms part of The Chevalier pub in Exeter, Devon.But the manager of the pub came out and told Pete he wouldn't be able to stand there as they didn't have a license.

A Wetherspoon spokesman has since apologised for the treatment Pete received (Picture: SWNS)

He said the manager told him to move away from the building.

Pete said: I told him Im not going to stand in rain, chucking it down. I had my vendors badge on me yet he was telling me youre not allowed to do collections here.

The war veteran had been selling poppies for two hours before the incident which left many bystanders disgusted.

Poppy seller .Pete West, 47, who was forced to stand in the rain - after a Wetherspoons pub manager told him he couldn't use the pub's concrete canopy.See SWNS story SWPLpoppy.Pub chain Wetherspoons has apologised after staff forced a poppy seller who was seeking shelter outside one of their pubs - to stand out in the rain.Pete West, 47, was selling the Royal British Legion's decorative poppies to passers-by as the heavens opened.To stay dry, Pete stood under a concrete canopy which forms part of The Chevalier pub in Exeter, Devon.But the manager of the pub came out and told Pete he wouldn't be able to stand there as they didn't have a license.

Pete had the correct accreditation and was wearing a string of medals when he was forced into the rain (Picture: SWNS)

Paul Gray who witnessed the incident has written a formal letter of complaint to the pub chain.

The doctor said: The collector was immaculately attired with appropriate Royal British Legion authorisation and also with a string of service medals that not many acquired because they died.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: This was an error and should not have happened. We apologise to the gentleman concerned.

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