FORMER airmen have bid a fond farewell to their veterans' club, as they closed its doors for the last time.

Durham City's RAF Association (Rafa) club, a landmark of Crossgate since 1964, hosted its last function on Saturday night, and will be officially closed on Monday.

Rafa members voted for closure in October, with the club struggling to cover costs and running short of volunteers.

The building, valued at about £450,000 , will be sold in the new year.

Association chairman David Wilmers, 61, said: "This is the final curtain - the last dance.

"Everyone from the ex-Air Force contingent felt there was no way we could carry on.

"The purpose of the club was for ex-members of the Air Force to get together and talk all about all things Air Force.

"But we couldn't get the members in, and we can't provide just another pub for Durham.

"All the groups using the club have found a new home to go to, which is good."

Durham City Rafa was formed in 1945.

Its current home was built by about 40 members, using a metal frame from an old First World War building at the Catterick Army camp, in North Yorkshire, as the main base for the function room.

In its heyday, the association had 1,000 members and the club was packed most nights.

However, over the years, membership dwindled, recently dropping to 136. At October's emergency meeting, only 30 people were present.

Two-thirds of those eligible to vote backed closure.

Mr Wilmers said: "A lot of people will miss it. For the older members, it's been a part of their life for 25 years or more."

Club secretary Bob Gordon, 75, said: "We could no longer continue to run the club without more income and more interest.

"We had to remain solvent, and the decision to close was inevitable.

"Everyone feels sad about it, but there was nothing else we could do."

Durham's RAF Association will continue to meet, in an alternative venue, providing companionship for members, raising money and campaigning on welfare issues.

Membership is open to all ex-service personnel. For more, information, call 0191-384-3376.