THE Royal British Legion in Kent faces difficult days ahead amid a sharp drop in members, its leaders have warned. Senior RBL officers worry that if current trends continue, legion membership could fall to below 10,000 by 2010 - a drop of almost 50 per cent in just 20 years.

The concerns, voiced by RBL Kent county chairman Tom Styles come as two branches are faced with major changes caused by a membership shortage. Cranbrook branch chairman Don Rogers has warned that the branch will close if nobody steps forward to fill committee posts set to fall vacant at next month's annual meeting.

Meanwhile, a shortage of committee members means West Malling and District RBL is to become a sub-branch, relying on help from RBL activists in nearby Royal British Legion Village at Aylesford.

Speaking after the RBL's 80th anniversary, Mr Styles said: "The shortage of members will become a serious problem in a few years' time." In the four years since he took over as chairman, membership in Kent has dropped by 1,500, bringing the total to 14,500.

Senior RBL figures said that at present there were too few recruits to replace the many branch positions falling vacant by the Second World War veterans wishing to step down after generations of service.

RBL county secretary Pat Cox said some young people were put off by what they considered an old fashioned organisation. She said they felt the legion was increasingly irrelevant to their needs and interests. She said the membership problems were felt more at this time of year as preparations got underway for parades and other events climaxing with Remembrance Sunday next month.

She stressed the importance of the legion's role providing social clubs, visiting and providing financial support to needy ex-service personnel.

Mrs Cox said the problem was worse in rural areas but that some branches, including her own at the Royal British Legion Village, were thriving.

Both she and Mr Styles said the continuing success of the legion's Poppy Appeal gave significant cause for hope in the RBL's work supporting disadvantaged former members of the Armed Forces and their families.

People need not have served in the Forces to be a member of the RBL. The annual subscription is £7.50. For information, contact the RBL county secretary Pat Cox on 01622 717088.