AN AMATEUR club singer who has held dozens of sell-out gigs at Preston's Canterbury Hall is appealing to local businesses to dig deep and help save the flagging venue.

It comes as the Garstang Road social club's committee chiefs agreed to give it a three month stay of execution.

Committee chairman Edmund Allen said dwindling funds have led to the threatened closure of the venue which was established by the nearby English Martyrs Church more than 25 years ago.

But Preston crooner and businessman,Tony Slater, who has raised more than £200,000 for local charities through his popular cabaret evenings, said the club deserves a "second chance".

"I appeal to anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit to come forward," said Mr Slater. "It's in a great position and one of the very few places to put a show on."

For years, hundreds of people have enjoyed a great night out at Canterbury Hall where organisers have laid on numerous functions from dance and comedy evenings to Christmas and New Year celebrations.

But since the nearby North Road industrial development began to expand, Mr Allen says the venue has suffered a loss of custom.

"There has been an effect on business since places like B&Q were built," said Mr Allen, who has been involved in the club for more than ten years.

"People think the club is part of the industrial estate. We've had problems running it recently but hopefully things will pick up otherwise that will be it.

"It would be a shame to see the club close down though because it used to be very popular and it has one of the best dance floors in Preston.

"It has entertained a lot of people in its time. People used to travel from all around the Preston area to come to the dance evenings.

"It's been very well supported and it's a pity that it might not continue."

But Mr Slater, of Garstang Road, believes the decline in the club's popularity could be due to the dated decoration and lack of a late drinks licence.

"For the last 30 years social clubs have been on their way out," he said. "Cheap beer has meant they just haven't had the money to renovate the hall and try to make it a more pleasant place to sit in.

"And magistrates never granted a late licence so people choose to go into the city centre instead.

"A lot of doctors and nurses used to come in the club but they didn't finish work until ten in the evening and you can only drink alcohol until 11pm at Canterbury Hall."

The final decision on the club's future will be made on April 6.