BRIERFIELD bridge players have promised a fight to the finish after being told their home is due for demolition.

The club was told in June the house and car park it owns in Clitheroe Road would not be affected by Pendle Council's housing market renewal scheme, which involves knocking down a number of terraced houses.

But now members have been told their premises, which they only bought last year and has refurbished, will be subject to a compulsory purchase order.

Now the club's 230 members are planning to turn up in force to Pendle Council's executive meeting on Thursday night to fight for their home.

Club chairman Margaret Nash said: "We are shattered. It's so out of the blue.

"It took us 11 years to find this property. We've spent a lot of money on it. We saved up, bought it and renovated it. It's lovely inside.

"It's the fastest growing bridge club in Lancashire."

Brierfield Bridge Club competes at county and national level.

The club chose Clitheroe Road because it had a car park so members could leave their vehicles safely. Members play five nights a week and the club holds lessons for beginners and improvers.

Brierfield councillor Frank Clifford said members of Brierfield and Reedley Area Committee had not known about plans to include number 2 Clitheroe Road in the clearance area.

He said: "The message to the council is the bridge club is not for sale and should not be demolished.

"There will be a fight to the death and if that means lodging an objection to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister should a compulsory purchase order be made then so be it.

"This has never been through Brierfield and Reedley Committee and it beggars belief that the executive has included this at this late stage."

Pendle Council has already begun buying homes in Holden Road and King Street and has now announced its intention to buy the odd side of Veevers Street, Belgrave Street, Claremont Street, Berkeley Street and numbers 17, 19, and 27 Clitheroe Road.

Council leader Alan Davies said: "It would clearly leave an island of three properties sticking out link a sore thumb.

"The club will be compensated in full for the value of the property."