A LUNCH club is opening up in Nelson for senior citizens to meet, enjoy a meal and have a game of bingo.

The church of St John Southworth in Vaughan Street is running the club which will open on Thursday at noon and will also be unveiling the hall's new kitchen, which has enabled the project to go ahead.

The church received £5,000 from Pendle Community Network to revamp the kitchen.

Helen Keating, who will run the club, hopes it will flourish.

She said: "There is nothing around here for the senior citizens and when older people can get together, it makes their day.

"They can have a natter and it breaks the monotony of the day. After lunch they can have a little game of bingo. Hopefully it will grow."

Mrs Keating said many groups in the area would benefit from the church hall's new kitchen and Clover Hill councillor David Foster has welcomed the project.

He said: "We are very excited about this.

"There are very little facilities up here and through the enterprise of the people from St Johns there will now be something to replace the luncheon club we lost 18 months ago."

The club starts at noon and three course lunch costs £3.