A residents' association which has been going for more than 60 years could close because of a

lack of community-spirited villagers.

Ferring Residents' and Owners' Association could fold because of a shortage of volunteers to join the committee or become wardens.

Its chairman has posted a strongly-worded letter on the village noticeboard warning people of the threat.

In the letter, Trevor Hill says unless people come forward the association could disband, meaning next month's AGM would be its last.

He said: "Surely this is not what we want for the future of Ferring?"

Mr Hill has been appealing for volunteers for the past six months but so far not one person has come forward.

He said: "This year four members of the executive committee are retiring after having given years of valuable service to the community.

"We have appealed several times for volunteers.

"So far not one person, out of a population of over 4,000, has been sufficiently concerned about the well-being of our community to offer to contribute to it."

The association, which was started 65 years ago, has engineers to advise it about the upkeep of roads in the village not looked after by the highways department.

If the association was to fold, residents are being warned there would be no co-ordinated maintenance of the village's unadopted roads and the road outside each person's house would become their own responsibility.

Mr Hill said: "If you wish the association to continue, please consider what you can do to help.

"Your service is invaluable and will help to keep our village the way we want it."

The AGM is on May 4.