A SPLINTER group of steam railway enthusiasts will be holding meetings today (Friday) and tomorrow to try and force an extraordinary meeting of the West Somerset Railway Association (WSRA).

Long-standing railway volunteer and association member Robin Moira White said an extraordinary meeting was needed to instigate a "thorough review" of the association's objectives, structure and activities.

Ms White is spearheading the 'Reform Group' with fellow members who believe the association has lost its way and who staged a mass walk-out at the annual meeting in July.

But the association's chairman David Williams accused Ms White of making untrue allegations about the work of the organisation's trustees, who he said worked tirelessly to achieve the group's goals.

He said they were only interested in furthering the heritage and educational work of the railway and not "personality politics".

The Reform Group needs to show support from five per cent of the association's members in order to call for an extraordinary meeting and to table proposals for a debate.

To gauge support, the Reform Group has organised two meetings which will be open to all association members - the first will be held at the Beach Hotel in Minehead tonight (Friday) and second at the King's Arms public house in Staplegrove Road, Taunton, tomorrow (Saturday), both starting at 7.30pm.

Speaking on behalf of the Reform Group, Ms White, a railway volunteer signalman for over 30 years, said: "It is immensely sad that we need to propose these steps.

"Our wonderful railway goes from strength to strength but our association is not playing its part in that.

"I would urge all WSRA members who can to attend one of our meetings this weekend.

"If they cannot, further details can be found at the special website we have set up at http://www.wsra-action.org.&quot">www.wsra-action.org."

Association chairman Mr Williams said many of Ms White's claims were "neither accurate nor based in fact".

He said: "The current trustees are interested in furthering the heritage and educational aspects of the railway and work tirelessly to achieve these goals.

"Most of our members are interested in railways and not politics and the trustees believe the membership would prefer us to concentrate on preservation and helping ensure the railway remains a vibrant heritage line for the future, rather than on personality politics."

Ms White has previously called for a vote of no confidence in Mr Williams following the group's failed bid to buy the freehold of the West Somerset Railway.

The purchase - which came out of the blue for the railway plc operator - sparked bitter rows between the association and the West Somerset Railway plc and is currently being held in abeyance by landowner Somerset County Council.

Ms White said she was not opposed to the bid to buy the freehold but disagreed with the way the trustees had approached the issue and how they had subsequently treated association members.