PENSIONERS in Chester-le-Street are demanding a re-think on the closure of their community hall.

Elderly people who use Gibside Hall said they only found out from a caretaker that Chester-le-Street District Council planned to close the building.

The hall, a venue for luncheon clubs, games and social meetings, plays an important part in the lives of many pensioners.

Council leader Councillor Malcolm Pratt has received a 300-signature petition and 30 letters of objection to the planned closure.

The council says pensioners will be able to use the Auckland Committee Rooms 200 yards away - a venue that pensioners say is up a steep incline, making it difficult to get there.

Freda Herdman, a member of the Gibside over-60s committee, said: "This hall is important to us. Without it, many people will not leave their home.

"I've seen a woman in her eighties in tears because she knows she won't be able to make it to Auckland.

"We have no idea why they might want to shut Gibside down. The upkeep is virtually nothing."

About 30 pensioners use the hall, and despite an offer of transport to the new venue, from the council, many say they will not bother when Gibside closes later this year.

A council spokeswoman confirmed the hall would be closing, but said transport would be provided for people who could not make the short distance to the new site unaided.