The members have urged villagers to attend at a public meeting and get involved in a last attempt to try to save the hall.

Seen as a central part of village life, the hall plays host to a wide variety of users – resounding to the music of line dancing one day and mums and toddlers the next. In total, 16 groups use the hall and it is the location for many annual events celebrated and enjoyed by villagers.

But it will close at the end of the year unless residents come forward to join a new management committee. There are just three members on the committee at the moment, and they are standing down. They have agreed to cover for a three-month period to hand over to a new committee if members can be found.

Committee member Liz Timms said: “The village hall is an asset to the local community and if it were to close this would have a major impact on the village.”

Earlier this year an attempt by the committee to find new members failed and now in desperation they have contacted the parish council to enlist its help.

Parish clerk Jenny Gellatly said: “Little Paxton needs its village hall. It provides a meeting place for so many village groups. If the hall were to close this would also affect annual events such as Paxfest, the Scarecrow Festival, November fair and quiz nights.”

Mrs Timms, who has served on the committee four times during the 22 years she has lived in the village, said they are looking for people who are community-minded and have the skills to perform a variety of roles, including chairman, vice chairman, treasurer and secretary.

They would need to able to give up one-and-a-half hours a month for the role.

A public meeting will be held on Saturday, December 7, at the hall from 10.30-11.30am when residents will be invited to form a new management committee. For more details call Liz Timms on 01480 394051, or email Jennifer Martin on Jennifer.vhall@gmail.com.