A RAILWAY campaign group has managed to avoid being shunted into the sidings and scrapped after a new committee was formed.

STELLA (Save The East Lancashire Line Association) called an extraordinary meeting to discuss its future after three of the four officers stepped down.

The EGM at the Clayton Arms pub, Manchester Road, Nelson, managed to fill the positions with "new blood" to head off fears the pressure group may have to fold.

Spokesman Derick Harrison said: "Quite a few people expressed horror that we could go out of business. It would have been a great shame.

"Fortunately we managed to get some new committee members coming forward to fill the positions and everything is all right again.

"We have had this hanging over us since October when it became obvious that some of the officers felt they had been doing the work for years and wanted to step down.

" If we hadn't got new officers it could well have meant the end for the group."

Chairman Paul Kirkup retained his post.

STELLA was formed more than 20 years ago when the future of the line from Colne to Blackburn was in doubt.

Since then it has campaigned for improvements to the line and services and fought on behalf of passengers.

The group agreed to meet every quarter rather than every month from now on.

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