A BRANCH of the Royal British Legion which has been at the heart of the community for almost 90 years has been forced to close.

Former chairman of the Northlew branch, Andy Buchanan, said: the decision had been forced by a 'dwindling' membership.

Mr Buchanan said: 'When we closed, we had just seven active members. The oldest member is almost 90, two members are moving away from the village, and another is in a nursing home.

'It is with the deepest regret that we had to take this decision.'

Despite the closure of the branch, the members decided to continue to speak at the primary school on Armistice Day last week, and to lead the children to the war memorial.

They will also continue to actively support the Poppy Appeal and attend the Northlew Churches. Last year, the branch was able to send in excess of £2,500 to the Poppy Appeal.

Northlew Royal British Legion was formed in 1922 in the aftermath of the Great War, to help support veterans and their families.

Over the years, members and their families have held coffee mornings, ran fete stalls, and organised an annual Christmas party for the over 65s.

The organisation raised funds to build the memorial in the centre of the village.

Its unveiling in 1996 was an important moment for a village where the proportion of young men killed in world war one was greater than any other village in rural Devon.