COMEDY fans in Darwen face having their last laughs as the town's only comedy club is set to close.

Audiences at the Humour Section at Darwen Library Theatre have dropped from 200 to less than 50, despite a line-up of top acts since the venue opened in May. Club organiser Mick Davies says that the December 8 show featuring Perrier Award nominee Dominic Holland will be the club's last -- and even that may have to be cancelled if they can't sell 75 tickets within the next 10 days.

Attendance for the November show featuring Nick Wilty was just 45 and Mick says he can't afford to keep the club going.

He is now making a final desperate plea for comedy lovers to make the last show count.

"The show on December 8 is a very, very good act, but I need to sell between 75 and 100 tickets for it to go ahead," said Mick, who ran the short-lived Rubber Chicken Comedy Club in Blackburn.

"It's a shame for Dominic to come all the way from London on a Friday night to play in front of 35 people." Councillor Kate Hollern, executive member for leisure and culture at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: "Mr Davies hires the hall in a private capacity but we are, of course, disappointed that the evenings were not as well attended as Mr Davies anticipated.

"The events were given the same publicity as all others taking place at council venues."

Tickets for Dominic Holland are available from the box office on 01254 706006, or the venue in Knott Street and from Darwen Library.