Club faces closure in membership crisis

The club, which meets at the Braidburn Inn on Mayfield Road every Thursday from 7-8pm, said very few people - especially those under 30 - were aware of it or what it does.

Spokeswoman Pauline Calder said: "We are in danger of having to fold before Christmas as Rotary will not allow us to be fully affiliated until we have at least 25 members paid up."

She added: "We are very mindful of the severe cuts from the council and other public bodies to charities at the moment.

"This is why we are quite active in doing can collections at Cameron Toll, with another one coming up in November, to help them out." As well as raising funds for local charities, the club fundraises for Rotary initiatives abroad, including the End Polio Now mass vaccination campaign. I

Its members enjoy a number of social outings, with a trip to Gilmerton Cove and a fancy dress quiz night both set to take place before the end of the year.