GIRL guiding in the north Cotswolds is facing a crisis with shortages of guiders and helpers throughout the division.

The Cotswold North Division, which includes the three districts - Chipping Campden, Stow/Bourton and Northleach/Chedworth, urgently needs at least seven more guiders to help run Guides, Brownies and Rainbows.

"We have got a Brownie unit closing in Chedworth closing because of a lack of leaders," said district commissioner Angie Iredale.

"It's a bit of a crisis. This is a national problem. Nationally, Guiding UK has 50,000 girls waiting to join who can't because there are not enough guiders," said Mrs Iredale.

"There is a shortage of people willing to help. I think some people think they are making a huge commitment, and some of us are, but if more people made a commitment the workload would be shared," she added.

Mrs Iredale said that nine guiders in the district currently are having to take on two or three jobs.

"Frances Fairclough, district commissioner in Chipping Campden, takes a Rainbows meeting, then sits down and has her dinner in the hall, before running the 1st Chipping Campden Brownie unit," said Mrs Iredale.

"We don't see that as ideal," she added.

She said that the guides are also in need of volunteers to help out with different units, but ideally each one has to have two qualified guiders. Men can also volunteer but cannot lead units.

"People think it's a lot of work but actually it's an enormous amount of fun. You get to do things that you wouldn't do in the normal aspects of your life," she said.

Anyone interested in volunteering to become a guider or helper should contact Mrs Iredale on 01451 822810.