A SENIOR citizens group may be on the move after 20 years to create more office space for council staff.

The group have used the council owned former bank building in Eagle Street, Accrington, for free for the past two decades. But they have been told they must start looking for new premises as Hyndburn Council needs extra space.

More than 250 people aged between 55 and 90 use the centre six days a week for dominoes, whist, bridge, dancing, and as a meeting point for the Aquarius ladies group, the former Townswomen's Guild.

Council chiefs have offered to help find the charity a new home but group secretary Lydia Wolstenholme is adamant they should stay where they are.

"I am not interested in renting somewhere else," she said. "They have buildings for senior citizen groups in Clayton-le-Moors, Great Harwood and Oswaldtwistle, so why shouldn't we have one. A lot of people who come for the dominos are in their 80s. They won't want to go somewhere else."

Mrs Wolstenholme is now urging members to put their names to a petition, asking the council to reconsider its decision.

Hyndburn leader Coun Peter Britcliffe said: "There is pressure on the council for office space and I have met the Eagle Street people and discussed various options. One of the suggestions was to use the New Era Community Centre in Church Street and some members said it would be wonderful.

"As council leader I really want to help these people and the important thing at this stage is finding another building which really meets their needs. I will be meeting with the group again soon to discuss this."

But Mrs Wolstenholme said the group would continue to fight for a building of their own.