EX-Servicemen have gone into battle in Burnley in a bid to save their club.

Royal British Legion members were called to an emergency general meeting after dwindling attendances put the future of the Lindsay Street social centre under threat. Just 28 of the club's registered 380 members went on parade at the AGM - but it was enough to form a new committee to lead the counter attack against falling income.

Now stalwart members have launched a recruitment drive to boost attendance.

The move is a replay of the situation three years ago when the Legion club faced a similar threat. It appears old soldiers do die, as well as fade away.

Said new secretary Mr Harry Isherwood: "The fact is servicemen are getting older and we are losing more and more.

"There was a time when you could not get a seat at the club on Thursday ladies' night. Now we are happy to get any number of people turning up."

"We are only just managing to make ends meet."

Mr Isherwood said the club had first class facilities with two snooker tables and a fine concert room.

"What we need is an injection of new blood. We sometimes think people just don't know where we are."

The club has been in existence for 20 years, with major renovations carried out five years ago.

Before being taken over by the RBL, it was the Tyremen's Club and before that the Textile Overlookers (Tacklers') Club.

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