PENSIONERS could lose their days out and the Tockholes Gala could fold if no-one comes forward to save Tockholes Village Hall Committee.

The warning follows news this week that the committee's monthly meetings have been cancelled due to lack of support from villagers.

The committee once boasted nine members who put into action various community projects such as the recently-installed benches along Top Road.

Members also arranged for glass paperweights featuring a unique coat of arms to be given out to village children as a memento of the new millennium.

But numbers have now dwindled and no-one has come forward to fill the vacant seats.

Chairman Sean Carroll said: "A number of members moved out of the village or changed their jobs which makes being on the committee difficult.

"Despite continued appeals for people to come on board, we simply cannot continue to run the committee without additional support from other members of the village community. There will be no more VHC meetings until further notice due to the lack of interest.

"When you consider the work the VHC has done over many years for the welfare of the village, this is a sad step we are being forced to take.

"Without the VHC there may be no future functions in the village hall, no further Christmas parties once existing funds have been extinguished, no more senior citizens' days out, no additional spending on improvements such as the new benches and potentially no more annual galas.

"I'm hoping this may give people a rude awakening as to how much we need more help."

Anyone who can offer support should get in touch with Sean or watch the monthly Tocus Talk newsletter for more information.