THE fate of Darwen's oldest Conservative club has taken a further blow with the cancellation of a three-month entertainment bonanza.

In recent years, the Bolton Road Conservative Club has staged a weekly music night every Saturday from April to June - but the club committee can no longer afford to pay the acts and cannot take a risk on predicting customer numbers.

Club chairman Harry Birkner said: "These are measures we have had to put in place for the time being and it's a tough decision that we had to make.

"Our annual Saturday concert nights have been cancelled this year."

Crisis talks last Thursday revealed the Saturday concerts would not make a profit for the club.

Mr Birkner said: "It just wouldn't bring in the kind of money we need."

Club committee members are currently in talks with accountants over an outstanding £7,500 VAT bill, although members cannot place a figure on the actual deficit at this moment.

Membership at the 'top con', established in Darwen in 1900, has dropped from 350 to 150 in recent years. Out of the current membership, most pay half the £3.75 going rate as they are entitled to a pensioner discount.

Mr Birkner said: "We have no idea how long it's going to take to sort out the finances.

"It's all in legal hands now because we are also trying to find out who owns the club so we can get things on the road.

"I've been told that it can take anything from a few months to a year. I don't know if we will be able to make it like this for a year but we have to take things one step at a time."

Two charity events at the club have raised £500 for Cancer Research UK and the NSPCC but a table-top sale for the club's own funds was poorly attended.

Similar fears are being faced at Hollins Grove Liberal Club on Falcon Avenue where membership has dropped from 700 to 300 in recent years.

This year the club was hit by a £3,000 council rate increase together with a £2,500 insurance increase, making times hard for the committee.