A CAMERA club that has been running for 62 years urgently needs a new home or it will be forced to close.

Leigh and District Camera Club has been based at The 180 Club on Railway Road for two years following the sale of its previous building in Ullswater Street.

Club secretary Peter Eaton says a representative of The 180 Club has informed the photography enthusiasts they cannot continue to hold weekly meetings there.

He added that they have just a few weeks to remove their equipment from the building and have drawn a blank in their attempts to find a new home within their budget.

Peter, 74, said: “Just when we thought we had managed to get back on our feet after the move two years ago we have been dealt another big blow.

"Everything at the club is now on hold – if we cannot find a new venue we will have to close.

“It is a very important club for our members, who enjoy the competitive element of it as much as the social side it brings to their lives.

“Unfortunately we have not been able to find a venue within our budget and that can store all our equipment.”

The club was founded in 1955 and once had 60 members.

Its membership has dropped to 15, with meetings held between 7.30pm and 10pm on Thursdays.

Members discuss photographs they have taken at events for other groups in Leigh and the surrounding areas and enter their work in competitions.

They were planning to submit entries for a Lancashire and Cheshire Photography Union competition when the bombshell news broke.

Peter, who has been a member of the club for 10 years, said: “At the moment we have bigger things to worry about and it looks like we will not have enough time to decide what pictures we can enter for the competition.

“We help other groups in the community by taking photographs to help give them publicity.

"If the club is forced to close it will be a real shame."

Anyone who thinks they can help with finding the club a new home should e-mail Peter at p-eaton@ntlworld.com or via rjmukltd@yahoo.com.