The Helensburgh Model Boat Club, which built a replica of Henry Bell’s Comet for its Bicentenary in 2012, have disbanded due to lack of interest.

Dennis Jones, former secretary of the club told the Advertiser: “We have been reduced to four elderly gents all over 80-years-old, so we are a bit less active than we used to be.

“Up until 10 years ago we had a large group of us with around 24 members, we were instrumental in the Bicentenary celebrations for Henry Bell. We built the radio-controlled model of the Comet which we sailed in 2012, before donating it to Helensburgh Heritage Trust for display in Helensburgh Library. But it has been difficult to get new members, youngsters don’t always want to get there hands dirty and join such a hands on club.” The club first started alongside Helensburgh Model Railway Club in the former Clyde Street School, but when the council closed the school, the group struggled to find suitable accommodation.

Further obstacles arose when the old boating pond and the pond in Shandon – where members used to operate the radio-controlled boats – became polluted by weeds.

Mr Jones, 89, joined in the early 90s after he retired and found himself with spare time on his hands.

He added: “We built several boats over the years including the comet and working models of air craft carriers. It was an enjoyable past time and I knew people who were in the group when I joined.” The group will auctioned off eight model boats at Great Western Auctions in Whiteinch on June 7 and all the money raised will be donated to Erskine Hospital and Cancer Research UK.