A WEEKLY social gathering has proved so successful it has helped save a working men's club from closure.

Steve Riley and a few like-minded friends were worried that Gilroyd Club was under threat of closure, and were also concerned that elderly and disabled people were feeling lonely and isolated due to a lack of things to do.

So they formed Young At Heart, which meets every Wednesday afternoon and includes bingo, games, cabaret and sing-a-long, and light refreshments - for young and old. Between 45 and 60 regularly turn out, which has given the club's coffers a healthy injection.

Club entertainer Steve, 65, said: "It's proved so popular, it's just snowballed really. We all just felt the club was on a bit of a knife-edge. The community needs it.

"We're getting support from local councillors and we're in the process of applying for some funding. We'd like to set up a skittles club, particularly for the older folk come September when the bowling greens shut.

"We've got a little group of about 12 retired entertainers who are happy to give their time for free, which has just been fantastic."

Ian Williamson, secretary of Gilroyd WMC, said before Young at Hearts started the future looked very bleak for the club.

"The way things were going last year it was going to close. It was imminent.

"We're a new committee and gradually we're trying to turn things around. This has been a massive help."

** The full story appears in the Barnsley Chronicle newspaper, dated June 20. **