AN HISTORIC snooker and billiards club are on cue to claim the title of the UK 's- and possibly the world’s - oldest after trawling through their archives.

Masham Subscription Billiard Room was established in 1871 in the middle of the North Yorkshire market town when its inaugural nine members bought their first table for the princely sum of £41.

It was brought from London by train but finished it's journey by horse and cart as the railway had not yet reached the town.

The Masham club's claim to fame emerged after the Lyonsdown club in new Barnet, Hertfordshire said it was the oldest - having only first opened its doors in 1895.

“They’re just a Johnny come lately,” said Masham club chairman John Ellis. “We’ve been going 24 years longer than they have and we’ve got the original documents to prove it.

“It was the great and good of the area who were involved at the start, all the historic names in Masham; Theakston the brewers and Jameson the seed merchants. The club built up to have three tables, which for a small rural club was very impressive, but of course then there was very little for people to do on an evening, it was a social thing.”

In the heyday the club had over 100 members when snooker was particularly popular in the 70’s and 80’s with the BBC’s Pot Black programme, promoting the sport and encouraging people to buy colour TV’s.

Now Masham is throwing down the gauntlet to see if any other club has a bigger claim to longevity, they are also keen to promote the sport which has seen a drop in numbers of young people getting involved.

“We still do pretty well, we have around 40 members, but many of us are older and it would be good to see some young blood coming into the club. We want to make sure we are here for the 150th anniversary, it would be good to think it could be around for another 143 years, ” said Mr Ellis.

Treasurer Richard Lapthorne added: "I am 51 and I am one of the youngest, so we would like to see more young people coming in, and more members generally.

"We really do believe we are the oldest, surviving continuous club , it’s astonishing when you look at the archives, it’s a mini history of the area,” he added.

The club is holding an open evening at 7pm on January 23, for more information contact Mr Ellis on 01765 689316 email ellis146@b tinternet.com.