A GROUP which has campaigned for environmental issues in South Ribble looks set to be wound up.

Hutton Residents' Association could soon cease to exist soon if new volunteers can't be found to take the reins.

Key members have had to step down recently including the chairman, treasurer and secretary and no one has stepped forward so far to replace them.

David Mander, 68, of Hall Croft Head, Hutton, has been the secretary of the group for four years and said he is sorry to see it end.

He explained: "We had a meeting last August where it was agreed the current post holders would continue for a further six months in the hope we could find replacements in that time.

"But at the March meeting there were no takers and we have ceased to operate."

David, a retired police officer, has been secretary for the last four years but is having to leave due to ill health.

He said: "People just don't have the time these days with the fast pace of life and responsibilities.

"We have a possible six-month period where we can reform.

"After that time all our assets will be divided between three charities -- St Catherine's Hospice, the Galloway Home for the Blind and Hutton Village Hall Association."

South Ribble councillor for Hutton, Jim Breakell, said: "They didn't have an axe to grind. They were an extra arm to the parish council and I am very sorry to see them go."

Councillor Eunice Webster said the association had provided a useful forum for debate since it started in 1991 and had actively campaigned for a greener South Ribble.

She added that it had a strong presence at the meetings with Teg Environmental to prevent the company building an industrial compost plant and had campaigned to stop the M6 motorway running through Hutton.