A CALL has been made for people to sign up and support the rebranded Cotswold Water Park Trust following the high profile fraud case involving the society's former chief executive.

Last month, Dennis Grant was jailed for four years and four months after he pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud totalling nearly £700,000.

But in a bid to restore public confidence CWPS was scrapped and replaced by a charitable trust, the Cotswold Water Park Trust.

Tasha Flaherty, operations director and the woman who single-handedly uncovered Grant’s crimes, said it was important Water Park residents and the wider community now rallied behind CWPT.

She said that by becoming a trust member, residents could have a real say in how the Cotswold Water Park is operated.

"The Trust represents a brighter future for the Cotswold Water Park," she said.

"The membership scheme was created in response to requests for openness and transparency. Membership is also important as it enables the organisation's work to carry on."

Jill Bewley, events manager at CWPT, said membership would encourage local people to feel informed and involved.

"We hope that we will regain ex-members who understood all the work we do, and gain new people who have faith in the new solely charitable organisation," she said.

‘We are hoping to attract a wide variety of people, not just those interested in birdwatching and wildlife, but those who value the fantastic asset they have on their doorstep."

Benefits of membership include priority booking on events, newsletters, discount at Cotswold Outdoor and voting rights at the annual meeting.

Membership costs £15 and for details or to sign up go to waterpark.org