WHEN members of Westhoughton Old Aged Pensioners' Association built their clubhouse it cost them less than £2,000.

Today the group has to reach a much higher target to build a replacement.

The wood and asbestos single storey club house is beyond renovation, failing to meet the needs of the blossoming group which has outgrown it.

It is based on Bampton Close, Westhoughton, at the back of Church Street, and members hope to receive lottery funding to demolish the current club house and build a multi-purpose new community facility in its place.

As a result, members are looking to raise funds and host an open day on site tomorrow, between 11am and 3pm.

The group has been based in its current building since 1964. The land and clubhouse is owned by the pensioners having been handed over to them by the now defunct weaving mill, Taylor and Hartley.

However, vandalism over the years has taken its toll. The cost of replacing windows became so severe that in recent years they were boarded up and paintings inside of outdoor scenes were put in their place.

Just weeks ago the group secured funding from Bolton Council for security fencing to be put up around the club's perimeter.

Brenda Rideout, secretary, said: "The day after the fencing was complete a lorry bumped into it and the whole lot had to be redone.

"Since then though it has served its purpose protecting us from the vandals.

"It also protects us from people who just use our land to tip their rubbish on.

"Just because it was left untended people seemed to think it gave them a right to throw their rubbish on it."

In fact, the Association has gone one step further . . . by securing a little help from members of the Westhoughton Food Co-op.

Brenda said: "Members are coming to look after the land around the clubhouse, undertaking planting and making the area look more attractive.

"In addition, we are now hoping to draw up plans to bid for lottery money. We would like to build a two-storey clubhouse which could be used for all the community.

"We meet twice a week so it would be nice for others to be able to use the building on other days.

"We have a growing centre with, on average more than 30 members attending, and travelling to us from as far as Blackrod and Daisy Hill.

"It would be nice to be able to let younger people use the building, but at present that can not happen because of the asbestos. It is not soft asbestos, but nevertheless is not ideal."

The open day will include a table top sale, refreshments and games. Help has been given from Warburtons, Tesco, Asda and the Co op. In addition there will be community gardens display by Westhoughton Food Co-op.

Questionnaires about what people would like to see in a new building will be handed out to strengthen the lottery bid.