It was once known as the Palladium of the North, attracting top stars in the 1960s and 1970s such as Del Shannon and The Searchers. Sadly, what became New Shildon Club, has now become a derelict eyesore. Helen Miller looks back at its heyday as the demolition crews move in.

IT WAS a Saturday night in the early 1970s and the place was packed. The noise inside had reached fever pitch and people outside were queuing to get in.

The flustered doorman was turning people away by the dozen as a man wearing a scruffy fur jacket tried to sneak past.

"I'm sorry sir, the place is full. We can't let you in," said the doorman.

The dowdy figure seemed bemused by all the fuss and replied: "That's a shame. I've come all the way from America for this.''

It is a story regulars at New Shildon Club will never forget - the day Del Shannon was almost turned away from the heaving venue on the night he was the headline act.

Shannon was just one of a host of stars who drew the crowds from all over the North-East to the small railway town.

For just 30p you could enjoy The Searchers appearing on the same bill as The Hermits, albeit minus Herman.

Acker Bilk thrilled audiences, as well as Marty Wilde, Karl Denver, Desmond Decker, Bobby Vee, Les Dawson and The Merseybeats to name a few.

Eighties favourites Little and Large could only manage to get on the bill as a support act.

Former president and treasurer, Councillor John Quigley was a club member for 45 years and looks back on that time with fondness.

He said: "I went there when I was old enough to start drinking. Right through the 1970s the entertainment was first class. It was a pleasure going down there.

"People used to come from all over, it was that good. Peter Murphy was the man that organised all that. He used to be able to get all the big acts.

"There used to be big queues just to get the monthly programmes to see what was on.''

As well as being a venue for the stars, the club also hosted the crowning of the National Railway Queen, with people travelling from all over the country for the event.

It was also ideally located next door to the town's wagon works and was a regular meeting place for a lot of the workforce with its own football team, leek show and other clubs.

Every year, children from the town were treated to a day out to the seaside with sometimes 12 buses full of excited youngsters setting off on a free trip.

However, when the works closed it started a downward spiral, causing the club to struggle in later years.

As times and fashions moved on it became harder to attract the famous names that were once so popular and two years ago it finally succumbed closing its doors for a final time.

Coun Quigley said: "A lot of people do miss it and it is sad that it has had to go. But the building has now become an eyesore and the right decision was to demolish it.