A DWINDLING Forest of Dean Cub-Scout group is making an urgent plea for new members and helpers to avoid having to disband.

The 1st Cinderford Cub-Scouts, which has until now been meeting in Wesley Hall, has only five members, two of them from Ruardean, and wants to avoid following the Beavers group which had to close when its organiser retired.

"Obviously with a catchment the size of Cinderford and district it is distressing that numbers are so low," said Akela Peter Northfield, who has been a leader for 15 years.

He explained the problem was two-sided, with not enough people in the area knowing that new members were wanted for the Cubs group and too few people stepping forward as helpers in what was a very rewarding movement.

"I think people in Cinderford are under the impression that there is a waiting list to get into the Cubs," he said. "This is far from the case and we would be very keen to welcome new members.

"We are also desperately short of leaders and would urge anyone who can help for a few hours a week to step forward. Obviously the more help I get, the better programme I can run."

He said there was a vetting process for new leaders but people genuinely interested in the development of younger people would not find this a problem.

"I would also like to see the Beavers (for children aged six to eight years) re-started – we had a very strong Beaver colony but we were left with no-one to run it when the leader retired and unfortunately had to shut it down," said Mr Northfield.

The Cubs would be meeting for the summer in the Scout Hut at Stockwell Green he said.

Anyone interested in membership or in helping the group should contact Mr Northfield on 01594 825140.