A BOWLS club forced to fold due to lack of members has left a parting gift in the hope future generations will once again share its passion for the sport.

Trimdon Bowls Club had been struggling to recruit new players for years and, this season, chairman George Glaister finally called it a day when the club was unable to find the required 12 players needed to compete in league games.

However, all is not lost, as the retiring bowlers have donated the club’s remaining savings - a sum of £500- to Trimdon Foundry Parish Council on the premise it is used to help set up a new bowls club in the future.

Mr Glaister said it had been a difficult decision to fold but said there had been no other option.

“For the last four months we only had eight players and we need at least 12 to compete, ideally 16 to cover holidays,” he said. “We advertised all over the village but no-one was interested. All the local clubs are struggling at the moment. There are not many players under 60 these days.”

Trimdon Bowls Club has been a source of fun and friendship for more than 40 years, with players meeting regularly at Deaf Hill Recreation Ground to train and compete.

Mr Glaister, 73, who has been playing bowls for 10 years ago, described the situation as a “sad turn of events” but said he was hopeful that interest in the sport would eventually pick up again.

“It is a fun hobby and a great way to meet people,” he added. “All the score cards and boards are already available and the £500 would easily cover the cost of everything else needed to set up a new club.”

Anyone interested in setting a club should contact the parish council clerk Kay Tweddle on 0191 527 9229 or kay.tweddle@yahoo.co.uk.