A POPULAR nightclub and a prominent pub have become the latest victims of the credit crunch.

The Rhythm Station, Rawtenstall, and the Whalley Arms, Whalley, have gone into voluntary liquidation due to economic difficulties.

The Rhythm Station, in New Hall Hey Road, next to the East Lancashire Railway station, was previously renowned for its jazz nights.

Top musicians who played there include Stan Tracey, Bud Shank, Scott Hamilton, Alan Barnes, Ben Castle, Mark Nightingale and Derek Nash.

The company behind both ventures, Allied Logistics Limited, was forced to call in the liquidators because it ‘could not by reason of its liabilities continue its business.”

Denis Dundon, a jazz night promoter who held events at the Rhythm Station in the past, said: “It is a real shame because it attracted many top performers from America and Europe because it was a good venue.

“It is a loss to the local community and for the music scene but as far as the jazz night is concerned we are still running it at Haslingden Cricket Club and it is as popular as ever.”

In 2008, previous operator Alan Greenhalgh announced that he was closing the venue, after it had been losing money for around a year, and Allied Logistics took over.

Whalley councillor Joyce Holgate said it was sad that the centrally-located Whalley Arms had shut down.

She said: “It is very unfortunate to lose an establishment like that in the village but it seems that this is the way things are going for pub businesses.

“We have been lucky that we have not had any pubs close before this one and I hope that someone will take it over soon.”

A spokesman for Leyland-based TH Associates confirmed that it had been appointed joint liquidators by the members and creditors of the company for ‘voluntary winding-up.’