Members warned: Use it or lose it!

They say the King Street club - which opened shortly after the end of Second World War - cannot continue to run unless trade picks up.

And now they have called a special meeting to decide whether to permanently shut up shop.

Club secretary David White said: "The situation is we're just not getting the support from our members.

"About 450 members returned their membership last October and I'd say about 380 of them never come near the club. About 80 per cent of our income is coming from 20 percent of our membership.

"We see the same faces in here all the time."

He added: "Like many coastal Royal British Legion Clubs we really rely on the visitors in the summer but the visitor figures are really down this year.

"We had to close on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday last winter to save on electricity but we want to open this year.

"I think one problem is that the traditional British Legion members' ages are increasing and they find it more and more difficult to get here. They are also more cautious about coming out at night.

"We don't seem to be attracting the young people. Fewer people are joining the services and fewer are therefore aware of comradeship."

The club's committee has scheduled a special meeting for 6.30pm on August 31 for members to decide what should be done.

Mr White said: "There will be no point in collecting annual membership fees in October if we're not going to be open."

Mr White said that membership of the club cost £13 and a pint of beer was under £2. He added: "Compared to other places we're a bargain and we do have facilities to provide snacks too."

He added that if the club, owned by the RBL in London and administered by the Weymouth branch, did close the local branch would have to find somewhere else to meet.