A SOCIAL club which has served Leyland workers for 76 years is to close.

BTR Sports and Social Club, Centurion Way, Farington, has been sold to an unnamed buyer by Hampshire-based firm Unipoly.

It is understood the building will cease to be used a social club from December 9.

The club has hundreds of members and supports four cricket teams, four football teams and a bowling team -- which will all have to find new bases or be disbanded.

The club is steeped in the history of Leyland's manufacturing industry. BTR owned several factories in the town employing thousands from all over the area.

The club was set up in 1925 to give entertainment to all those workers. BTR owned it until 1997 when it was sold to Unipoly.

David Kaye, manager of BTR Sports and Social Club, said: "The club is definitely closing. We have known something like this may happen for a while as it has been up for sale.

"We don't know what it will become, but think it will be something to do with sports and recreation, as that is what the building is listed for.

"I was instructed to strip to building which suggests it won't be a club any more. I have been made redundant and am sad to see it go."

The announcement comes one week after the closure of the Leyland and Birmingham Rubber Company, Wheelton Lane, Leyland.