A NEW steering group born out of the ashes of the former Pendle and District Sports Council, today issued a rallying cry to fitness fanatics.

The group is urging all Pendle sports people to join them in a united voice to represent sport in the area.

A meeting was held on April 17 to discuss the issue, but organisers said there was still a lot of people from clubs and sports in the borough who did not take part.

The group are hoping more people will attend a meeting at Nelson Cricket Club, on Thursday, at 8pm.

Suzanne Hodgson, of Pendle Leisure Trust, said: "Over the last couple of years the sports council has been dying off and at our last AGM we decided to set up the steering group to get a voice for sport in the area.

"The input of local people is vital to assist with the development of local sport. Whether you are involved with a sports club or as an individual, whether you are an interested parent involved through school or just a keen spectator, we urge you to assist in forming Sport Pendle a voluntary body run by sports people for the benefit of all local sport."