LABOUR Party officials remained tight-lipped last night over their reasons for walking into a social club to demand its immediate closure.

Their refusal to discuss the matter comes in the face of growing anger among party members, who claim Chester-le-Street Labour Social Club was shut, and its steward Steve Benzie made redundant, for political reasons.

Former club chairman Tom Conery said regulars had been caught unawares when five members of the executive committee went to the club shortly before 11pm on Friday to demand the keys and closure forthwith.

Mr Conery said: "The club was opened 23 years ago and was never set up to make a massive profit. But it was a viable concern and had money to cover its debts. There was no financial reason to close it - it was political.

"The club was the centre of opposition to the election of Kevan Jones as the constituency's MP"

He said the main concern now was to safeguard the interests of Mr Benzie, who at 63 - just two years from retirement - is without a job.

Mr Benzie said: "I am disgusted by the way they have handled this."

He said that after demanding the keys, police later arrived to tell him the locks were going to be changed the following day.

Mr Benzie said the constituency party had been considering a takeover by the social club's management committee.

Constituency party executive member Councillor Edna Hunter said members had voted to mandate only chairman Councillor Janice Docherty to comment on the matter.

But Coun Docherty declined to discuss the issue.

She said: "The only statement that I am authorised to give is that the decision was made by the constituency Labour Party on the closure of the club.

"Regrettably, this meant that the steward would be made redundant."