ACCRINGTON Royal British Legion has been saved from closure after a decline in members sparked fears for its future.

The branch has kept alive the memory of the Accrington Pals -- the battalion of local men almost wiped out on the first day of battle in the First World War. But membership of the branch, which was formed in 1921, dwindled to 35 and there were no committee members left.

It will now continue to be known as Accrington RBL, and will run its own poppy appeal, but the administration will be run by Church and Oswaldtwistle branch. And Accrington will lose the right to send a delegate to the annual national conference, giving it no voice on national policy.

Doris Cassidy retired as secretary of the Accrington branch in September after more than 30 years which saw her hold every post on the committee.

She said: "I'm pleased. At least we carry on with the standard and Accrington is still doing its own poppy appeal. It means we don't have to lay up the standard and close the branch, which would be tragic. It's good news."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said: "It's the best that we could have hoped for. It shows what can be done when people want to be helpful. I'm delighted Church and Oswaldtwistle branch has come to the rescue. They have saved the name of Accrington British Legion.

"Coming so soon after the annual service for the Accrington Pals, it's timely that the name of the Accrington Royal British Legion has been saved in view of the sacrifice made by the Pals in World War One."

Accrington Pals historian Bill Turner said: "It's very important the British Legion and the work it does survives because it does a lot of social and charity work."

Efforts by Oswaldtwistle chairman Roy Lockwood to enrol committee members for Accrington proved fruitless and members have now voted for the move. "It was more or less unanimously accepted," he said. "Accrington is a big area for the poppy appeal and we are totally funded by the appeal. We need every place we can get to collect money because it runs our welfare system. We have only a week to do that every year so we can't afford to lose places like Accrington."

County secretary Joanne Fairhurst said: "It's given the branch the chance to survive."

The vote has been ratified by the county committee, and will need to be rubber stamped by national headquarters in London.