A WORKING men's club and former snooker stronghold was forced to close its doors this week because of mounting debts and lack of trade.

The Dyers and Finishers WMC in Stanley Street, Accrington, which regularly hosted matches with top players like Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor closed on Sunday night.

The club, which had more than more than 200 members when it closed, has been a part of the Accrington club scene for over 70 years.

But the Dyers and Finishers, which during the early 1970s had one of the finest snooker teams in the county, has been having money troubles for the last three years and was having problems paying off loans to brewers Mathew Brown.

A large chunk of money was also owed to the taxman for unpaid VAT.

The club faced closure three years ago when bailiffs took away the famous snooker table along with chairs, tables and the dartboard after a rates bill for over £3,000 was not paid off.

Steve McGuigan, the president of the club, said: "We have been having problems for several years and there has been a gradual fall in trade. "There are five clubs in the area and competition is very fierce. Most of the other clubs have had refurbishments and we have not been able to afford to do that."

Mr McGuigan added: "This used to be a very popular place and just two years ago we used to have more than 300 members.

"The bills have been mounting up and this has been coming for the last two or three years, there was not a lot we could do about the situation."

"We recently took on a new steward but fortunately he has been able to find a new job at another club."

Jack King, snooker player and owner of the Red House Motel in Darwen, said: "The Dyers always had one of the best snooker teams in the country.

"Whenever the national league tables came out the club was always in the top ten, it is a real shame the club has closed but it has been coming for a few years."

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