A KEIGHLEY bingo club is set to close, with the loss of 14 jobs.

Buzz Bingo has announced that the Alice Street club is amongst nine of its premises nationally earmarked to shut.

The company, which has 91 clubs in total, has blamed the move on the "ongoing and challenging operating environment".

Nationally, 151 employees face losing their jobs.

Dominic Mansour, chief executive of Buzz Bingo, says: "In common with the entire leisure and hospitality sector, we have failed to see customers return to the high street in the same numbers as before the pandemic.

"This, coupled with a squeeze on family finances brought about by rising inflation and energy prices, alongside a jump in our own operating costs, means we have no real option other than to cease trading in nine of our locations.

"These closures will, very sadly, impact a number of our colleagues and so our priority is to support all those affected and to do everything we can to minimise job losses. I personally want to thank them for their commitment and service to Buzz.

"Believe me, no one wants to make the call to close clubs. However, it is my belief that it’s these decisions that will allow us to restructure the business for long-term growth and to protect the livelihoods of our colleagues for the long run."

The company's total workforce numbers 2,456.