THE Royal British Legion branch of Newton-le-Willows and Earlestown has met for the last time.

The 84-year-old association's illustrious history has drawn to a close, with membership that once stood as high as 2,000 now at only 24.

The ageing committee believed they had to make the decision because no younger members were willing to take on the responsibility.

Roy Heppenstall, branch treasurer, said: "It is still financially viable but there are no youngsters coming along.

"It boils down to us closing shop, all the money in the branch will go into a central fund in case we re-open in the next seven years.

"We will still be holding our remembrance service, we have had one every year (except one) since 1921 so this will not be cancelled."

A group of servicemen met in a room above a shop in Grant Street, Earlestown during the First World War.

After the war the group continued to help soldiers with advice on demobilisation and returning to civilian life and when the British Legion formed in 1921 the Earlestown branch was officially formed, moving to Crow Lane West in 1925.

Branch membership increased to almost 2,000 after the Second World War; with the group helping to erect the commemorative stones either side of the Boer War memorial outside Earlestown Town Hall.

The club was forced to close in 1992 when the site was vandalised and then demolished after a fire.

The group then moved to the home of the Sea Cadets on Cross Lane and was renamed as the Newton-le-Willows and Earlestown Branch in 1995.

The final remembrance church service of the legion and the laying up of the branch standard will be held on Sunday, November 13, meeting at the Sea Cadet headquarters in Cross Lane at 10.15am.

For more details contact Mr Heppenstall on 223332 or 226860.