A YOUTH club’s future has been thrown into doubt because its home looks set to be sold to a storage company.

The 4 Youth group runs a drop-in centre in Tower Street, Brightlingsea.

Plans have been lodged by A&B Storage, based nearby, to use the two-storey unit.

The youth club, which has about 150 members aged four to 19, has declined to comment or say if it has found a new home.

Derek Allen, a director at A&B Storage, said: “We are trying to expand because people need storage space.

“If approved, the plans will create at least one job, hopefully a few more, and there will also need to be some construction work to convert the building and make it suitable for our use.”

A&B has applied to open the facility from 8am to 6pm weekdays, from 8am to 5pm Saturdays and 10am to 4pm Sundays.

The building is privately owned by David and Sally White, but they could not be contacted.

The youth club was founded by Margaret Tay and Anne Mann in March 2000 The former cinema was used as a factory before it was taken over by 4 Youth in 2004, when the club moved from its previous home in Victoria Place.

In October 2011, 4 Youth shut because the building was not fit to use.

Hearing of the club’s woes, local tradesmen, including plumbers and roofers, offered their services for free.

Volunteers came forward to get the building up to scratch and agreed a two-year lease.

It is understood a deal was put in place over last summer for the building to be taken over by a community trust and leased to the youth club, but this fell through at the eleventh hour.

The club, run by volunteers, was given funding last month for a new pool table, and fishing and table tennis kit.

It is open several nights a week and offers games, art, drama and music workshops.

Tendring Council has the final say on the application.