A 70-YEAR-OLD cadet squadron is on the brink of shutting down forever as they find themselves with no cadets and only one volunteer.

Millom Air Cadets group has issued the plea for others to get involved as they try to save the squadron from extinction.

Alec Hennis, the last remaining civilian instructor, said: "I was a cadet myself for a couple of years and I came back about three years ago to help out.

"If we don't do anything soon then it's going to be too late and it'll be gone forever.

"Generations of families have been part of us and it'll be such a sad thing for the town if it goes."

Cadets must be between 12 and 17, and the group are appealing for new members after seeing the last of their cadets leave during the summer.

Treasurer Bob Neate said: "It's a very small town and a very close-knit community. We always do the town proud on remembrance days when we parade, but we found that as they got older they seem to go off further afield and now we've been left with nothing.

"For as far as I can remember being in the cadets was a big thing and sometimes had between 15 and 20 members before it dwindled down.

"I have a friend who's 74 and he was here as a kid. He thought it was wonderful to go off camping, learning to do things, and experiencing something new."

The group also offers a host of opportunities, which they hope will attract more youngsters to get involved.

Mr Hennis said: "Being in the air cadets is a great opportunity for local children. You get to do a lot of activites from the Duke of Edinburgh to flying. That's just part of what the RAF do.

"Our cadets can get flight experience in a two-seater plane and each time they go out they get to do different things. Eventually they can even take control of it.

"There's not many opportunities for people to go and fly and we can offer that.

"I don't think people know we're here and what opportunities we have."

The group is also looking for adult volunteers to help out.

Cadet nights are on Monday and Wednesday evenings, with the pair hosting an information evening on October 11 at the barracks on Moor Road for people to find out more about the organisation.