A VINTAGE organ which has bellowed out music for nearly 65 years may be silenced.

The classic 1938 vintage Compton organ graces the Lancastrian Ballroom at the Town Hall in Chorley.

But the music maker, containing more than 700 pipes and bellows, could soon fall silent as audiences to the regular recitals decline.

Samuel Wase, who restored the instrument after he and fellow enthusiasts rescued it from the back room of a bankrupt shop, is keen to encourage more people to attend and keep the music playing.

He said: "We've tried to provide a similar thing to the Blackpool Tower ballroom dances. They seem to get packed, but we can't get them in."

Mr Wase said only about 12 couples regularly attend and he urged more to give it a whirl.

If the events cannot attract a wider audience, the organ, originally used at Southport's Grand Cinema, could fall silent. Mr Wase said it would be sad if it came to that as it is one of the few remaining cinema organs of the 500 installed across the country in the 1920s and 1930s by John Compton, famous British organ builder and designer.

It is designed to play all sorts of music and has real percussion instruments in it for a wide range of backing sounds, including "silent movie" effects. Money raised from evening dances at the Town Hall throughout the year help preserve the classic antique and keep the Compton era tinkling on for future generations.

There is a dance tonight, with the next on Thursday, December 20, starting at 7.30pm.