The Calne branch of the Royal British Legion is looking for new committee members to prevent it from closing.

The branch will be holding an extraordinary general meeting tonight at 7.30pm in the Calne Conservative Club, Church Street.

The meeting is for the election of new committee members, to enable the branch, established in November 1924, to continue to support the ex-forces and their families of the town and surrounding areas.

Any member of the branch willing to take on a role on the committee is requested to contact Patrick Croxford, of 63 Wessington Park, Calne.

"Without a committee, the branch will formally close leaving the town without the Royal British Legion and the help that this charity can provide to all those who have fought for and supported their country when asked to do so," said branch Secretary Frank Rumble.

"If you are a member of the Calne Royal British Legion and are able to give a few evenings a month in support of the group, then please do so by coming forward now," he said.

In 2001 the Calne branch received an accolade for attracting the second highest number of new members amongst all the branches in Wiltshire in 2000.

The branch attracted 20 new members, a 20 per cent increase on the previous year.