A BLACKBURN-based charity that has run for 80 years will close if it does not get any new volunteers.

The Blackburn Guild of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution started in 1922 with 21 women -- it now only has four.

The charity annually raises around £4,000 for the life-savers and the organisers fear they will not be able to carry on if nobody comes forward to help them.

The RNLI is run by volunteers and relies upon donations to buy and upkeep its lifeboats.

Mary Pinto, chairman, said that the guild had run a charity flag day every year -- except 1947 when a door to door collection was made -- and that they have run a charity shop on Lord Street in Blackburn every year since 1988.

She said: "It would be a real shame if Blackburn lost these things, we've always been so well supported by the people.

"We've only got four volunteers now and they're all getting older.

"The shop opens on September 15 for a week and if we don't get some more volunteers, it will make it really difficult to run it.

"There's so many charities now that its really difficult to get people to join our committee.

"Sadly, the numbers of the committee have been reduced considerably in recent months and it is felt that without new members, this local branch will close.

"We only have four committee meetings each year and we desperately want to continue the good work."

If anyone is interested in joining or wants more information please contact me on 01254 690226 or Rita on 01254 812223.