WOMEN'S Institute members decided to celebrate their golden jubilee year with a difference.

Members of the Astley group have planted a rowan tree in the grounds of Astley's Dam House to mark 50 years of comradeship.

And the group, which meets at the village's Pensioners' Centre, is appealing for new members.

President Betty Bailey said: "We desperately need new faces, but it is hard to get people to come out in the evenings these days.

"While travelling home from a meeting of Atherton Heritage Society last week we only saw one person walking.Like many groups, we need younger women to join and help us keep going and to give us new ideas."

Anyone interested can attend the meetings at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday of each month.