CLUB diehards will meet tonight in a bid to save one of Nelson's oldest social centres from closure.

Mounting debts and lack of leadership has taken the Irish Democratic League Club to the brink of disaster.

Just 20 of the 100 members turned up to Sunday's emergency meeting of the 110-year-old club, which has traditional links with the Labour Party.

But they determined to dig in and take the first step to keeping the club alive by electing a new committee and team of officers.

The meeting, attended by Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, heard that Bass brewery had offered to buy out the club's debts - understood to run into several thousand pounds - from previous sponsor, Thwaites of Blackburn.

Bass also said it would invest in improvements at the Walton Street club to provide a much-needed face-lift.

But there are strings attached to the offer - not least that the centre puts itself on a proper business footing and sets up a strong team to lead it.

Tonight's special committee meeting will be asked to decide on other stipulations set by the brewery.

Said club spokesman Coun Tony Leather: "There are difficult decisions to make, but we will have to face up to them if we are to decide.

"But I believe there is now a real determination to give the club a future."

Coun Leather, who recalled Labour leaders such as ex-Prime Minister, Harold Wilson and Aneurin Bevan had been visitors to the club inelection campaigns, said until about four years ago the club was paying its way, without debt.

"In recent years there has been no committee to speak of and the club has just become more and more run down.

"Now it seems we have every chance to save the club and get it up and running again.

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