A VILLAGE chapel near Richmond is to close after membership dwindled to just four.

Worshippers at Melsonby Methodist Chapel had battled for two years against falling numbers and increasing costs but the burden of running and maintaining the building became too great.

Attendance was already well below the level at which a chapel would normally close and the decision was approved by the Darlington Methodist Circuit last week.

The final service was held on Sunday, but the chapel remains open until the end of August for community organisations, which use it regularly. The groups have been contacted with the news and are searching for new venues.

The future of the 140-year-old building has not yet been decided and now rests with the Darlington Circuit, to which the management role has been transferred.

The four Melsonby members will worship at Barton chapel but will continue to hold regular house groups - informal discussions of issues inspired by the Bible and Christian ideas - in their homes. Details of the meetings will be posted on the village noticeboard and in the monthly community newsletter; all are welcome.

Jill Neill, church council secretary, said: "The decision to close was not taken lightly and we are very, very saddened, but the burden of maintaining a large building was too great for just four people.