PROTESTORS turned out in force at the weekend to demonstrate over the closure of a sports and social club.

About 120 people took to the streets with placards and banners in an effort to show how well used the Middlesbrough Co-operative Club was, and how it is missed, not only by its former members, but also the local community.

There was a public outcry early last year when the club, in Acklam Road, closed after being bought by George Wimpey North-East.

After receiving hundreds of objections, Wimpey - which at present does not have planning permission to develop the site - struck a deal with Middlesbrough Council to allow it to be sub-leased to members.

However, after wrangles with the authority over the terms of the agreement, the developer backed out.

The purpose of Saturday's protest was to make clear to Wimpey that there is a great deal of anger over the decision and that the community want their club back.

Norman Leonard, chairman of the Co-op Site Action Group, said: "All the fittings and fixtures of the club have been stripped out and the field and bowling green have been left to deteriorate.

"Not only have we lost a good sports club, but a lot of people have lost a great social life.

"The place was always busy and it is such a waste of a good facility."

Wimpey put forward an application to build 32 houses on the land in 2000, but has since withdrawn the application and is preparing a revised plan.

Jack Simpson, 75, a member of the club, said: "We do not want to lose this facility. So many of the old things are going and we need to keep things like the club in the community, as it is such a valuable asset."

Nobody from Wimpey was available for comment at the weekend.