Trowbridge Lions Club has launched a ‘desperate’ appeal for volunteers to help with its annual Santa sleigh rides to raise funds for communities.

The club is now down to 12 members from 35 a few years ago and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

But with only a dozen members it is unable to provide the resources to cover the whole town without help from volunteers or new members.

Joint club president Richard Culverhouse said: “Lions will be doing it again this year but we are desperate for helpers.

“We have covered about seven of the areas of Trowbridge but we would like to cover 14 and to do that we need more volunteers.”

The Lions have been offered support from community groups in Studley Green, Paxcroft Mead and Broadmead but are appealing for help from others.

“The Scouts are going to help us in Hilperton but we are trying to be interactive by asking local communities to help us to help themselves.”

If the club is unable to obtain support, it will have to cut the number of routes planned – which means some areas of Trowbridge could be missed.

Mr Culverhouse said: “It’s always difficult to decide which areas to collect in and which we do not have the resources to cover.

“Any estate that wants a visit from Santa’s sleigh will need to provide us with a team of collectors - we will provide the sleigh, sleigh driver, team leader/navigator and, of course, Santa.

“A team of collectors is 6-8 adults over 16, who must be capable of walking 4-5 miles in two hours.

“Collections will take place between 6pm and 8pm on a weekday evening from early December in the run-up to Christmas.”

Children are welcome to accompany collectors but must be accompanied by a responsible guardian.”

All the funds raised by the Lions is directed back into the local community and to international relief projects.

Mr Culverhouse added: “The Christmas collections are a very important source of income to the Lions Club allowing us to support many local people in these difficult times.

“If you would just like to be involved but don’t have a team then please call as well we are always looking for additional collectors at this time of year.”

“If your community/area/estate is able to assist us and provide a team of collectors please contact us via our website."