Members of the Stowmarket club, in Tavern Street, say they are spending thousands of pounds of the club's savings to keep it open – but time and money are running out.

David Halls, the club's entertainment manager, said: "We have already spent around £10,000 of our savings this year because we aren't getting people through the door. We will be lucky if we survive another two years if things continue the way they are."

Despite having more than 500 members, the club only has around 50 regulars.

Mr Halls, who has been a member for 15 years, said: "Members are getting elderly and we are struggling to get younger people in. They seem to think you have to be ex-servicemen or women to join but that's not true."

He said overheads were also rising, like staff wages, rates and paying for live entertainment.

"We have live music most Saturdays but sometimes we are only getting 10 or 20 people coming. It's so sad really," Mr Halls said.

Tomorrow, the club is holding an open day for people to learn more about the legion.

Mr Halls said: "Youngsters seem to think it's just about old people sitting around talking about the war and it's just not true. We just want people to see what we are really all about."

Stowmarket RBL branch chairman Dennis King said he did not believe the club would close for several years, but added: "We will have to take some savings out and pull our horns in."

Robert Lee, press officer for the Royal British Legion, said one club a month was closing across the country, but they were addressing the problem.

He said: "The reason some don't survive is because they just are not trading enough or they do not have enough members. But we are now creating new legion clubs under professional management, with modern facilities that are designed to attract everyone."

Stowmarket RBL will be open from 10am tomorrow with a barbecue and entertainment.

From 6pm, Guinness World Record holder Dean Gould, of Felixstowe, will be dropping in to show off some of his talents, including beer mat flipping, coin snatching and winkle picking.

For more information, email davidhalls1@talktalk.net

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