A THRIVING Brownie and Guide unit in a small village is under threat of closure unless more volunteers can be found to help.

The 1st Croft Brownies and Girl Guides has been running in the village of Croft-on-Tees, near Darlington, for more than 30 years, but a new leader is needed for the Guides and more volunteers for both groups.

And current Brownie leader Nicola Turnbull, who is stepping down because she is moving out of the area, said unless helpers come forward by July then the unit will have to close or amalgamate.

She said: “Croft is a small village but there are a lot of families here and we serve a lot of rural parishes.

“There are no other activities for children here, in the village, other than organised events at the village hall, but they are more ad hoc.

“There are no regular clubs other than Brownies and Guides.”

There are currently about eight Guides and 17 Brownies in the busy group, and they do a huge range of activities, from working towards different badges, crafts, community and charity work and trips away to places such as museums or outdoor activity centres.

The guide leader Laura Booth is stepping down due to family commitments, and helper Jillian Thorpe will be continuing the Brownies but she needs more helpers to keep going.

Ms Turnbull said they needed a guide leader aged over 18 and volunteers of all ages.

The unit has been running in Croft for more than 30 years, many of those under the village school secretary Sue Dent, who retired five years ago.

Ms Turnbull said: “Anyone can volunteer, subject to the disclosure and barring scheme check. If we can’t find anyone by July we will have to close.”

“We are going to meet with the Hurworth Brownies and Guides to discuss amalgamation with them, but then that throws up more questions like which venue do we use, which night we meet, and so on. It would be such a shame if Croft itself no longer had its own unit.”

The Brownies themselves said they wanted someone fun, enthusiastic, happy, caring, trustworthy, and not too grumpy.

The groups meet each week at Croft Church of England Primary School.

To volunteer, or for more information, email croftbrownies@gmail.com