More people are needed to breathe new life into a campaigning village association.

At its peak Heaton Township Association had 400 members – now it has about 60. Despite its dwindling numbers the 36-year-old association has a string of successes to its name.

But to keep it up-to-date with the changing population, the association is putting out an appeal for fresh faces to join them.

Heaton Township Association chairman Elizabeth Hellmich said: “We need younger people and we need people from the ethnic groups in the village.

“Without the correct people on the committee we feel we can not represent Heaton village people to the best of our ability. The people we need also need to be interested in helping improve the village and adhere to the motto to preserve, protect and promote which is what we try to do.”

The association started out from residents’ concerns about saving the land, that is now Rosse Woods, from being built on.

“That’s still one of our main jobs to keep the village as a village and not let it just become part of the urban sprawl,” said Mrs Hellmich.

Over the years the association has also become an overseeing group working with Bradford West Area Panel and being responsible for large amounts of funding. Projects achieved and overseen include the recent rejuvenation of Heaton Hill, Heaton in Bloom, Young People’s Citizenship Awards, providing new equipment for the elderly people’s aerobics group, Heaton Gala, Christmas trees in the village and now a new website is under construction.

Yearly membership costs £5 and lifetime membership is £25. To find out more, contact the association secretary Margaret Gray on (01274) 545745.