FOR 50 years, a thriving Women's Institute has run in Coxwold and Oulston.

But, after celebrating the 50th anniversary with a party in Coxwold Village Hall, it was announced that members have, "with sadness", unanimously agreed to leave the national federation in February.

The group will continue as an independent group with the provisional title of Coxwold and District Evening Group.

President, Se Allum, declined to be drawn on why the group was to part company with the WI: "Let's say we have both outgrown each other. But we did want to carry on as a group in the community, which we think very important for a rural area."

At the anniversary party, she gave a brief history of the group and people enjoyed the posters and scrapbooks depicting many of the activities undertaken during the life of the branch.

Dorothy Burn, a founder member and past president, helped to cut the decorated cake made by Kathleen Houlston. A toast was proposed to the past, present and future and the assembly enthusiastically sang Jerusalem. A delicious buffet was provided members and the evening ended with an excellent film by Malcolm Wride of Coxwold street fairs during the Seventies and Eighties.