CHORLEY Round Table, which celebrates its 50th anniversary next year, this week launched a vital recruitment drive to boost its dwindling ranks.

The organisation, which has raised many thousands of pounds for charity over the years, and at the same time provided members with active social lives, has just carried out a 1,500 leaflet drop to homes in Chorley inviting men to join up.

Club bosses say fewer numbers not only means members miss out on a range of activities, but that charity cash is also hit, too, with fewer events being planned to raise funds for the community.

One nearby North West club, Formby Round Table, for example, now has just four members.

Though Chorley's is not in any imminent danger of folding, like any society a continual reduction in membership could eventually put a question mark over its future.

Paul Harvey, aged 33, of Whittle-le-Woods, is membership secretary for Chorley Round Table, which meets on the first, third and fifth Monday of each month at the Sea View pub, Whittle. He said: "Getting below a certain number, you can't get enough members to do things and that can affect fund raising for charity."

The club, for example, carries out Christmas food collections, takes part in the River Ribble charity raft race, takes children form Mayfield School, Chorley, on annual fun trips and organises a darts marathon and sponsored bike ride.

Paul, a production manager for a PVC manufacturing company in Blackpool, said: "We've had two people move out of the area and two or three people leave on the age rule.

"Twenty to thirty members would be a good figure. Effectively you have to start doing something about it before the problem is on top of you."

Aimed at the 18-45 age group, the Round Table movement began in 1927. There are currently 1,000 clubs in Great Britain and Ireland with a total of 14,000 members.

Anyone interested in joining Chorley Round Table can ring either Paul on 01257 263184, Brendan on 07881 498427, or Kieran on 01257 241302.