THEY were bonded together by the loss of a village -- but even the Graners have now called time on their unique reunion.

The village of Grane disappeared under the waters of Ogden Reservoir when it was constructed between 1902 and 1912 to supply drinking water to Bury and Radcliffe.

It had its own church, chapel, school and pub. The villagers were also notorious for distilling their own whisky. During droughts, the tops of some of the old buildings can still be seen by walkers.

The original Graners were relocated closer to Haslingden, near the Holden Arms pub on Grane Road, and were commemorated with plaques on trees 80 years later by North West Water.

But the annual tea party to reunite former residents and their families has been brought to an end after 12 years.

Organiser Jackie Ramsbottom said she was calling an end to her work on the lost village of Grane as original residents died out.

Jackie, 46, of Shap Close, Baxenden, said she was also unable to continue because she was leaving her job at Clough Head Visitors' Centre.

She has organised the exhibition of photographs, cuttings and memorabilia and put on the annual get-togethers for those who used to live in Grane or with grandparents who lived in the village.

Speaking from the last Grane exhibition at Haslingden Library yesterday, Jackie told how she started her work 14 years ago. She said she had started her labour of love in 1989 when she joined the visitor centre in Grane Road. She assembled an impressive array of photographs and memorabilia from the former residents and their descendants.

They gave a privileged insight of life in a by-gone age. She said: "It is sad but I've had some happy memories. I've met so many wonderful people through this, I've had a wonderful time. When I started there were 200 people coming to the tea parties, but today the majority of the people who lived there have past away, now there are about 20 I know of.

"We held the last get-together three weeks ago at Haslingden Library so I could say thank you to everybody for everything they have done. Only 50 people turned up.

"It's unfortunate, but I'm leaving my job at the centre because it's being turned into a cafe.

"I'll be continuing some of the work about Grane, but it will be taken over under the general work about Haslingden, by my other work, Haslingden Roots, that looks at family history."

Elizabeth Taylor, 85, of Greenfield Gardens, Haslingden, was born at the Holden Arms, in Grane Road, in 1917. She said she was an old Graner.

Her grandmother Elizabeth Jenkinson was the landlady of the pub at the time.

Her parents Alice and Andrew Brandwood ran the butchers, grocery store and post office over the road.

She said: "It's is sad but the first tea-party we had was really great, around 200 people turned up and we were able to reminisce about the old times.

"Now it will be hard for Jackie to continue the good work she has done. I would like to thank her and all her helpers for putting on the tea party for all these years."

Frank Bridge, 71, of Lindale Avenue, Haslingden, said his family came from the village of Grane.

He said: "It's a real shame, the exhibitions are really interesting and they will be missed."