CHORLEY Adventure Youth Club has folded despite having its biggest-ever membership.

The 28-year-old club will close at the end of the month because the vast majority of its 80-plus members are not showing enough interest.

Horrified organisers have found that the young people want to play computer games and visit the cinema rather than go cycling, walking or canoeing.

Club leader Paul Glucklich, one of the founders, said:"It's a very sad day, but without the support of our members we cannot carry on.

"Our membership is at an all time high, but they just aren't booking the activities."

Members -- who are aged between 10 and 15 -- have regularly taken part in a wide range of outdoor activities over the years -- ranging from mountain walking and camping to water ski-ing and canoeing.

Groups have gone on holiday to all parts of Europe. Last year there was a tour to the Canadian Rockies.

In addition, there have been monthly visits to the cinema, swimming pools, ten pin bowling, ice skating and much more.

Just last month, Les Whittle, of Harrison Road, Chorley, the club's honorary secretary, warned that the club faced closure and appealed to its members through The Citizen for more active support.

She said: "One of the reasons that our club has been successful where others fail is enthusiasm, teamwork and respect for each other.

"Sadly over the last two years the interest and enthusiasm have gone.

"Quite a few parents have named progress as the culprit, namely computers. I'm sorry, but if that is progress, what a boring generation we have coming up."

She stormed: "A generation that are too idle to get off their backsides to scratch. A generation who get excited over a screen of virtual reality. A generation who don't make an effort and who certainly don't know how to have fun."

Over the last few months bookings dwindled to an all time low. This month's average attendance for activities has been just three.

The club's fundraising challenge flopped this year, too. A cycling trip, like the one that raised £4,500 for club funds last year, attracted just four members.

Now the club is left with the job of selling equipment, including a minibus, two speedboats, ten canoes, a box van trailer, flatbed trailer and more. LACK of adventure: Enthusiasm for events such as mountain biking has dramatically dwindled