MIDDLEWICH is set to lose another of its social venues at the end of the month because is it is no longer viable to run.

Centura Foods Sports and Social Club, formally the RHM Club, will close at the end of September - less than two years after the town lost Pochins Sports and Social Club.

A spokeswoman for Centura Food cited licensing legislation as the main issue which has prompted the decision to close the Booth Lane venue.

In a statement to the Guardian, she said: "Following recent changes in licensing legislation, a number of discussions have taken place between the committee of the sports and social club, which runs the Middlewich sports and social club, and the licensing authorities regarding the ongoing viability of the club.

"After a great deal of thought and consideration the committee has regrettably decided to close the club with effect from September 30."

Middlewich town councillors have expressed their sadness that the club is to close and say it is yet another example of Middlewich losing a leisure facility.

Dave Thompson, events organiser for the town council, hired out the club for the Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival when the event first began and says it is a sad loss for the town.

He said: "From my point of view it's disappointing for the general public to lose a possible venue for parties and events."

Clr Mike Parsons added: "It's certainly been here for as long as I have lived in the town which is 34 years.

"It's just a shame following so closely on the heels of the Pochins club closure - yet again Middlewich is losing another leisure facility."

Town mayor Clr Chalky White added: "I think the difficulty of running clubs as a whole is that unless they are a national concern, like the Royal British Legion, it's too easy for this to happen. Sadly it's symptomatic of dormitory towns."