VOLUNTEERS have served their last meals to elderly residents at Glusburn Luncheon Club, which has folded due to funding problems.

“It’s very sad because the club has been going for about 35 years,” said treasurer Margaret Golightly.

Secretary Val Harrison said: “For some of them, especially the 12 or 13 people who live on their own, it’s upsetting and worrying.”

Kath Emmott, 88, Ruby Filkin, 89, and Doreen Higson, 87, all of whom live in Cross Hills, have regularly met up at the luncheon club.

“I’m very, very sad about this,” said Kath. “We’re all on our own.”

Residents who visit the club were treated to a three-course Christmas lunch, courtesy of the Clough Trust, which donated £200 to cover most of the costs of the meal.

Gill Birks, chairman of the trustees at Glusburn Community and Arts Centre, remains hopeful that someone could come forward with a £2,000 grant to pay someone to run the club as a social enterprise.

She said: “I sincerely hope that we can get something going again in the New Year.”

E-mail ola@gigac.org.uk, or call 01535 630223 or 01535 634097 if you are able to help.