A MERSEYSIDE branch of the Royal British Legion is facing closure because of falling membership.

The RBL club, in Woolton Village, now has fewer than 100 members, compared with its heyday when it had up to 600.

Organisers said that unless they can drive up numbers and recruit younger members, they will be forced to close the branch.

A public meeting is due to be held tonight in a bid to find ways to boost membership.

The RBL club is part of the charitable organisation that cares for ex-servicemen and their dependents. Freda Byron, who has been secretary of the Woolton branch for the past 10 years, said: “People don’t realise that what we do supports the heroes that fight the wars for us.

“A lot of British Legion clubs are closing down, but we’re going to try and fight to save ours.

“We’ve been here since 1930, but people keep saying they didn’t know we were here. It’s very sad, but if we can’t recruit new members we will have to close.”

The club’s financial problems were compounded when its regular New Year’s Eve party had to be abandoned because of a power cut which affected large parts of the area on December 31.

Ms Byron said: “We’d paid £1,000 for food and £850 for an artist, and sold over 200 tickets, but by the time the electricity came back on at 9pm people had gone elsewhere and we had to give them their money back.”

Tonight’s meeting starts at 8pm and will be attended by representatives of the Royal British Legion. It takes place at the RBL club, at 47a Allerton Road, Woolton.