The future of a bowls club, which has been on the brink of closure for more than a decade, finally looks to have been secured.

Crittall Bridge Bowls Club - based on the grounds of an old nursing home at Witham's Bridge Hospital - has faced uncertainty ever since its home passed into the hands of Mid-Essex Community and Mental Health Trust.

Club officials were told the Trust wanted to sell the bowling green to developers and only a planning condition requiring them to find the club an alternative location put the brakes on a sale.

Both parties have been searching for a new base for the club ever since but without success.

Now a deal has at last been struck where the Trust will allow the club to continue using its grounds.

Club secretary Keith Haygreen, who helped launch the club in 1979, said: "This is really good news for both our members and the people of Witham. We've been fighting our corner for several years but I never gave up hope that we'd win the battle."

Mr Haygreen, also vice-president of North Essex Bowls Association, said despite the uncertainty, membership of the club had swelled to more than 60.

David Manion, the Trust's deputy chief executive, said: "In principle agreement has been reached for the bowls club to stay on the site, which we are all very happy about.

"However, a few points remain to be negotiated and we'll make an announcement as soon as all the legal aspects of the transaction have been agreed."

Witham Town Council leader Phil Barlow added: "The bowling green is a valuable community resource and we wouldn't want to lose it."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.