A KENDAL residents' association is launching an appeal for public help after a membership boom left its committee room in desperate need of an extension.

Members of the Gallowbarrow residents association currently use a converted two-bedroom flat at the sheltered housing complex as their headquarters.

However, the committee room is no longer able to accommodate all association members following a recent rise in membership, and a £12,000 conservatory is needed to provide the extra space.

The association has already raised £1,000 through fund-raising, received £500 from a local charity, and has been promised £1,000 from Cumbria County Council according to chairperson Nora Hunt.

Ms Hunt said that they have exhausted all other options.

Ms Hunt also maintains that the association requires more room to function effectively.

"There are 33 flats, some single, some double, and we regularly have 20 people for lunch and this is the maximum it can hold. We had a choir come and play the other week and they had to stand out in the hall," she added.

Association secretary George Watson believes that the room is unsafe due to its small size.

"It becomes extremely cramped when there is any number of people there.

"If we get this extension, we could move chairs out of the community room into the conservatory to make it a safer environment for members," he said.

Anybody who wishes to make a donation to Gallowbarrow residents association should contact either George Watson on 01539-721109 or Nora Hunt on 01539-728119.