One of Bradford's most historic clubs has closed because of lack of interest.

Tong Horticultural Society has closed after 84 years because its dwindling number of members cannot find any youngsters interested in taking up gardening and keeping the society alive.

The society's secretary, Maureen Gibson, 61, of Tong Street, said she was saddened that there was so little enthusiasm for the group.

Mrs Gibson, one of the group's longest serving members, said: "It's really disappointing but there's not enough interest to keep it going anymore. Nobody wants to know. The young ones just aren't interested in gardening.

"In its heyday the Tong show was really important to the people of Bradford. Everything used to stop for the show and the street would be full of people walking about with their wheelbarrows.

"The council's parks department used to come and put a display up and the lord mayor used to come and open the show. But all that fizzled out years ago.

"But all the allotments, houses, and shops that used to on Tong Street have gone now. The area's really changed - and not for the better. It's sad that we're losing a piece of history.

"There are no young ones coming in - the youngest person who comes is 55 and we just can't do everything that we used to.

"The man who put the posters up was in his 80s and he said that he just couldn't risk going up the ladders anymore."

The Society began in 1916 as part of a government campaign to fight food shortages caused by German blockades.

After the First World War the society continued and started its own horticultural show which attracted hundreds of people from around Bradford.

The society is appealing for the 21 trophies it gave out for the last time in September to be returned so they can be given back to their owners.

Mrs Gibson, said: "What we want to do is return the trophies where ever possible to be people who bought them as a souvenir of the society. The ones we can't return we'll sell off for charity.''