An under-threat rural fire station looks increasingly likely to close after a recruitment drive for part-time firefighters attracted just four applicants.

Council bosses warned earlier this year that Bosham fire station, near Chichester, would have to close if it could not attract more retained firefighters.

West Sussex County Council sent out 30 application packs to people living in the village who indicated they were interested in joining the fire service.

Just eight were returned and four of those have been withdrawn because of changing circumstances.

District Commander Andy Horner said: "If we're going to keep the fire station, we need more firefighters - especially those who can provide cover during the day."

Even if the four applications, which West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said are being processed "as quickly as possible", are successful, it would still leave Bosham fire station understaffed.

A final decision on the station's fate is likely to come in April. If it is to close, emergency cover for the area would be maintained from Chichester fire station.

Mr Horner said: "It would still leave us short of the number we need to say with real confidence that the station will stay open.

"And we know from past experience that not everybody completes the training and induction process.

"Others resign within a few years because their personal circumstances change - they move, change employers or have new family commitments.

"So even if we can crew the fire engine in the short-term, we'd have to monitor the situation closely if we were still short of firefighters."

The changing demographics of Bosham and its surrounding area have been blamed for the potential closure.

More residents of the village than ever before are choosing to work out of the area, particularly in the neighbouring cities of Chichester or Portsmouth.

That means fewer people are available to work as retained fire fighters in Bosham because those who do must work within five minutes of the fire station.

It is a problem, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said, that is being encountered to varying degrees across Sussex as more people gravitate towards working in the bigger towns or cities.

County councillor Lionel Barnard said: "We have said throughout that we would like to keep the station open if we could. But we really need to hear from all potential recruits as soon as possible.

"We're delighted we've got some people in the recruitment process but the fire and rescue service still needs more. It needs to know how many potential firefighters we have before we can make any long-term plans on how to provide fire cover in Bosham."

For more information about applying to become a fire fighter in West Sussex call 01243 786211.