LEIGH'S devastated Royal British Legion Branch is aiming to bounce back stronger than ever.

Thanks to ex-servicemen answering a rallying call a committee of new, younger blood has been set up -- and their first priority is to find a new base.

The group was rendered homeless when the cash-strapped Windermere Road club was forced into closure and the doors were finally locked following the November Remembrance Day Parade.

The aging heroes who had battled for years to keep the club alive were finally beaten by declining membership, costs and vandals.

Now following an appeal in the Journal , 14 ex-servicemen met at Leigh Conservative Club last week -- and the branch is set to rise again under the guidance of Bob Rollins and Bert Paxford.

Secretary John Kelly said: "We now have members from 25 years old, Gulf veterans, who are very keen to keep the club alive and who were surprised to learn of the state that it was in.

"The older men will be there in an advisory capacity, but we hope to leave the branch in the hands of younger people who will be able to take if forward better than ever.

"There is no sign of a sale on the old building yet though there has been some interest. However, our main priority is to find a new smaller base and carry on our charitable work.

"We would like to thank everyone who turned up at the meeting, the Journal for helping us to get going and the Conservative Club."

The new committee is: D Ashton (chairman), D Schofield (vice chairman), L Kehoe (president), K Paxford (Pensions and Convalesence), J Kelly (secretary), Bob Rollins and Bert Paxford (honorary vice-presidents), D Hardman, G Minshell, J Corbett, J MacDonald and B Hall.

Meetings will take place on the first Tuesday of every month at Leigh Conservative Club, Railway Road, and anyone interested is invited to go along.