In Barrowford pensioners from Roughlee crowded into the Civic Hall, banner held high, protesting at the closure of the well-subscribed to lunch club at the end of the month.

While some are being curtailed, Roughlee and the lunch club at Byron Road, Colne, will close.

The senior citizens turned up to a meeting of the council's Barrowford and Western Parishes Committee to support the plea of their borough councillor, Coun. James Starkie, to ask Operation Services to change their mind or delay the decision until there had been talks.

He said: "There has been no discussion at all about this closure on this committee. It has not been on the agenda. The first we knew was when letters arrived addressed to those who attend the club held in the Village Centre, saying that with effect from September 1st it would be amalgamated with the one at Barrowford."

He told councillors that, despite free bus journeys, the service in and out of Roughlee was not easy and members of the lunch club enjoyed their get-togethers, as well as the good food.

On Wednesday, Coun. Starkie said he had written to Coun. John David, as Leader of the Council, asking for a postponement of the closure, a change of mind or alternatives that meant villagers could continue to enjoy their meals in Roughlee.

Coun. Starkie saw the closure as an attack on rural life and the pensioners an easy target. He said: "It is the easy underbelly. Every year when they are looking for ways to cut expenditure the lunch clubs always seem to come up."