A WOMEN’S Institute branch which was set up more than 70 years ago is to meet for the last time.

The New Romney WI has 34 members but must close because it has been unable to find women willing to take on the posts of president, treasurer and secretary.

Current president Joyce Thomas said the decision to end was very sad.

She said: “It has always been a very happy group and I’ve made some wonderful friendships as a result. I’m quite choked.”

New Romney WI, which has met at St Nicholas primary school for the past year and before that at the Assembly Rooms, had a choir, a drama group who put on regular shows, hosted an annual pancake toss and ran a Scrabble league.

At their monthly meetings members did knitting, sewing, cooking and crafts.

The group was also having trouble attracting younger members.

Mrs Thomas said: “Young people don’t seem to have the same interests.”

Past president Jacqueline Mount said the group had lost members and others had moved, as members were getting older and didn’t want the responsibility of running the group or had done it before and needed a break.

She said some members would join other institutes.