A Brownie pack which has been at the heart of the community for nearly 60 years is to meet for the last time.

Hundreds of girls have graduated through the ranks of the Bolton Villas group, learning valuable life skills, since it started up in the late 1940s.

But no-one has taken on the leadership of Brown Owl, which is being vacated by Carol Bannon, 40, who has dedicated the last 13 years to the role, so it will close after a final meeting next week.

The pack is the longest-serving of three Brownie groups based in Wrose, Bradford, and has met every week at Bolton Villas United Reformed Church, in Livingstone Way. Most of its 18 members; girls aged between seven and ten, have chosen to be transferred to a different group.

Mrs Bannon, a mum of two, of Wrose, joined the group as a Brownie when she was seven, and was a Girl Guide until her late-teens before her return to the voluntary role of leader a decade later.

She said: "I intended to finish two years ago but couldn't bring myself to do it with no one willing to take over. But working full-time and planning something new for the next meetings has been hard work.

"We have no option but to close and it's such a shame that we won't be part of the centenary celebrations in 2010.

"We have had some great times and it gives girls a good standing in life and teaches them good values."

This year alone the pack have visited Eureka! and Thornthwaite campsite, near Harrogate, as well as an annual trip to Flamingo Land.

Assistant leader and former Brown Owl of 15 years, Judith Sutcliffe, 63, of Wrose, said: "I joined the pack when I was seven and have been pretty much be involved with them ever since so I'll be sad to see it go.

"It has changed tremendously since I joined when it was all about knitting, cooking and sewing; now we do a lot with computers, horse riding and even star gazing.

"I've really enjoyed it, the camping trips have been good fun and it's nice when you see parents who were once Brownies themselves, brining their children along. The girls pick up a lot of skills and life experience. You only need one member to come up to you and say thank you and it makes it all worthwhile."

The group will be suspended for a year, and could be revived in that time, but only if new volunteers come forward. There are still 46 other packs in the Bradford district.

To find out about becoming a leader, call Bradford North divisional commissioner, Mary Smith, on (01274) 639974.