A WELFARE group has disbanded after nearly 30 years of raising money to provide thousands of grocery vouchers to people in Hapton aged over 70.

Hapton Ladies' Welfare Group has been forced to wind up after struggling to recruit younger members.

It is nearly 30 years since Nessie Hargreaves MBE and Yvonne Ratcliffe founded the committee which held two or three fund-raising events each year.

Nessie said: "We used to give a Christmas voucher to the over 70s and it would have been our 30th year this Christmas but unfortunately we have not been able to get younger people involved and so we have had to disband.

"I would like to thank all the business in the village for their support over the years, the parish council, people who held coffee evenings and all the members past and present, in particular my fellow founder member Yvonne Ratcliffe who has supported me from the start."

Nessie, who has been a parish councillor in Hapton for 31 years, received her MBE for services to the community. She also set up a prescription service for people in Hapton.

The club's final £500 was presented to Brian Hough, chairman of the Padiham and Hapton Fund-raising Group for Burnley and Pendle Hospice Care. The Padiham and Hapton group recently handed over £12,000 which has accrued in the Bradford and Bingley and the group now has shares in the bank.

Kaye Bartle, fund-raising assistant at the hospice, said: "The Padiham and Hapton group does a brilliant job in raising money but do need new members.

"Joining a group can mean making new friends, learning new skills and having fun as well as helping a worthwhile local cause.

"The hospice couldn't exist without the support it gets from the community and we are grateful to the Hapton Ladies' Welfare Group for supporting us in this way."

This year the group will be holding a bric-a-brac stall at the St George's Day celebrations at Towneley Park, a Sotheby's valuation day on May 9, a cake stall at the hospice garden party on May 19, street collections in Burnley and Padiham, a concert at Gawthorpe Hall and a Joyce Ingham evening.

Nessie and Yvonne have offered to help the hospice group out at one or two events and anyone wanting top know more about joining the group can contact Brian on 01282 778149.