A long-running bingo club's number could soon be up unless more fans of the game are found to take part.

This is the message from Mountnessing Bingo Club organiser Eileen Gosling, who this week launched an appeal for bingo enthusiasts from the Brentwood area to come forward.

Mrs Gosling, who has been a member of the club since moving to Mountnessing fifteen years ago, said she did not know how long it had been running before that.

She had taken over the job of caller in 1997 at a time when the club - which meets each week at St John's Hall in Church Road - had boasted around 35 members.

But the past year has seen a gradual fall in the membership - to the point where the club was forced to cancel a number of its Friday evening sessions during the summer holiday period. Mrs Gosling admitted that financially it had become increasingly difficult for the club to keep its balls in the air.

An admission charge of just 50p set against the £10 cost of hiring the hall each week means that a minimum of 20 people are needed at each session.

Prize money is generated by the sale of ten-game bingo books at £1.50 each. A raffle is also held during the interval, when refreshments are available.

Said Mrs Gosling: "The evenings are very enjoyable, but we do need more members if we are to keep going.

"It's been difficult to keep the club running. If not many people come then there isn't much for those that do come to win."

She added: "It's a small, friendly club and it's been going for at least 15 years that I know of.

"Mostly it's the older people that attend, but people come from a couple of miles around.

"Those that do come enjoy it very much and I don't think they would like to see it close. They look forward to their Friday night out."

The club's winter season is now under way, with sessions taking place between 8pm and 10pm each Friday. For further details, call Eileen Gosling on 01277 353488

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