A WORLD-FAMOUS male voice choir is being forced to advertise for new members because younger men are no longer interested in joining.

Membership of the Nelson Arion Choir, which has been based in the town for more than a century, has dropped from more than 100 to just 70 in the last few years.

Now the choir, which has toured Hungary, Germany and Canada, is launching a recruitment campaign, set to include newspaper adverts, posters and open rehearsal nights.

A meeting is due to take place next Wednesday for a group of choir members interested in recruiting new singers. They will plan open meetings for members of the public to attend to find out more about the choir.

Current members travel from the Ribble Valley, Blackburn, Burnley, Settle and Keighley to sing.

Chairman, Neville Mitchell, has blamed the dwindling numbers on the choir's ageing membership and the lack of young people getting involved.

Tony Wilson, 63, of Glen View Road, Burnley, who is leading the recruitment drive, has been a member of the choir for 21 years and still considers himself a "relative newcomer."

Tony, a former managing director of an engineering company, said: "There's hardly any people coming through from the schools now, in terms of music, and people's lives have changed so they don't join societies as much any more. We're no different from any other organisation in that respect.

"People now are going to university, then they are starting a family, and they don't get involved in the same way.

"Being in the choir is not an easy commitment because there is a busy concert season when you are expected to perform, but I have always found it very enjoyable.

"There's a lot of friendships and also a great deal of amicable rivalry between the sections."

Anyone interested in joining the choir can call Tony on 01282 459875. A list of open rehearsals will be available within the next fortnight.