PENSIONERS will lose their treasured bingo hall to make way for a children's activity centre.

The 65-year-old Carlton in Preston will close on July 27 and re-open in October as Tumble Jungle, featuring climbing frames, bouncy castles and wacky play equipment.

A dozen part-time staff, mainly students, will lose their jobs, as will long-term managers Terry Green and Joan Rushton who have many memories of the Blackpool Road venue. The Carlton opened as a 600-seater cinema in 1932 showing two films a week.

Terry Green, who worked as a projectionist, remembers the main crowd-pullers were 1950s musicals. He said: "When Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was released we had to keep showing it to keep up with demand. It cost one and nine pence to sit in the circle." Like many Preston cinemas, The Carlton converted to a bingo hall in 1961. Players still used the cinema seats until the hall was refurbished.

Terry said: "People brought their boards and clips to play bingo on their knees. The game has moved from the image of women wearing curlers to a more luxurious night out.

"But there has been competition from bigger halls, the National Lottery and scratch cards. Admissions have decreased over the years so the closure comes as no big surprise."

Joan Rushton of Ashton, Preston, recently celebrated 30 years of loyal service at The Carlton. She said: "It has always been a comfortable atmosphere where everyone knows each other. I'll really miss it."

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