A CLUB which has been at the heart of a Huddersfield community for more than 80 years has been saved.

St Patrick’s Club has been the focal point for the town’s Catholic community for generations.

But this year there were fears the club – known as St Pat’s – would close due to an ageing and declining membership and the impact of the smoking ban.

A campaign launched to save it suffered a blow when the driving force behind it, Lindley entertainer Gerry Kilroy, died suddenly.

Now it has been revealed a new committee has been formed and the club’s immediate future is secure.

A spokesman for the new committee said those running the club previously had “panicked”, paying off all debts and cancelling bookings for functions.

He said the club in Trinity Street was firmly back up and running and added: “We want people to know we are open and taking bookings again.

“The club is in the black and we have bookings up to Christmas.”

The new committee’s turnaround plan involved cutting opening hours and staff hours.

There has also been a small increase in membership fees to £5 a year.

The new-look club is open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with turns booked on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons and evenings.