The future of a community's Royal British Legion (RBL) branch still hangs in the balance as the charity continues to desperately raise a committee in order to avoid its closure.

Membership of the Legion is declining, and the Bridport branch - which also runs a community hall and used to raise tens of thousands of pounds for the RBL for the welfare of ex-servicemen each year - has been put under county administration after the long-standing office holders wanted to retire. With not enough volunteers for a committee, the group says the branch cannot legally operate.

This also means that the RBL hall in Victoria Grove, which is used by local groups, organisations and charities for fundraising events, could also close without a group to run it.

A meeting was held at the hall on Saturday, April 2, to raise a new committee with the hope that it could prevent the branch's closure.

The Dorset County Chairman of the Royal British Legion, Ian Jarvis said that the meeting held was partially successful in that it was able to get a few names to stand for the branch committee, but added that not enough names were added to make the branch compliant.

In a letter to the remaining Bridport branch members, Mr Jarvis said: "Because of the feeling within the room and the amount of support that was there, I have decided that we will try again on the 28th of May at 11am. This gives those present enough time to talk to other branch members, friends and spread the word so that we are able to save your branch.

"Please spread the word and if possible attend the meeting on the 28th. Please be assured you are valued and appreciated as a supporter of the Royal British Legion."

The county chairman has said that if the branch fails to raise the committee needed he has no option but to start the closure process and that the charity would have to sell the community hall.

The RBL has approximately 7,000 Legion members across the county, with around 30 branches, which are supported by 15 RBL Clubs.

The charity was formed in the aftermath of the First World War to fight for the rights of those who had given so much and come back to so little. Today, the RBL continues to provide life-changing help and support to the Armed Forces community and challenge injustices on their behalf.