THE BRJ Club in Huntingdon, which now has debts, including a mortgage, of over �400,000, could close if a new buyer is not found. A meeting was held at the club on Monday night by trustees to review the club s desperate situation. Before the meeting, Cha

THE BRJ Club in Huntingdon, which now has debts, including a mortgage, of over �400,000, could close if a new buyer is not found.

A meeting was held at the club on Monday night by trustees to review the club's desperate situation.

Before the meeting, Charlie Jacques, founder of the club whose initial is the J in the club's name, told The Hunts Post: "The money needed to save the money is only �40-50,000. That would save the club immediately. The problem is the trading figures and also the lack of support in the community."

Mr Jacques, 72, said he had approached Councillor Ian Bates, leader of Huntingdonshire District Council, asking if the council would buy the club and lease it back to the trustees but the idea had not been taken forward.

HDC's chief lawyer, Colin Meadowcroft, confirmed that there had been informal discussions but no formal approach. The council was examining how it might help the trustees.

The club got into debt after a mortgage was taken out to pay for extensions.

Mr Jacques said: "I am always sad about the lack of support for the club. We should really be holding events every week but society has changed completely. People used to go out on a Friday and Saturday night in their best suits and dresses. It's changed entirely. People don't want to hear live bands now because they don't sound as good as recorded music."

After the meeting on Monday Mr Jacques told The Hunts Post he was hopeful the club could be saved.

He said: "We had a good meeting. We found a benefactor, a Peterborough charitable business. We hope the BRJ Club will be saved. I can't say any more now but there will be a full statement in two weeks."

The BRJ Club in Sallowbush Road, Huntingdon, was founded as a project in 1972 and opened in 1974. It is named after Charlie Jacques and the late Maurice Bastini and Tony Rigby, who borrowed �53,000 from Charrington's Brewery in St Ives, whose beer was sold in the club. The mortgage was taken out in 2000 when the club was extended.

The BRJ Club runners stopped meeting at the club this summer and now meet at Huntingdon Leisure Centre.