BEER is once again flowing at a Kirkheaton club - more than a month after police shut the pumps down in a raid.

Magistrates sitting at Huddersfield Licensing court heard how members of Kirkheaton Conservative Club had no idea there was a problem with the drinks licence until officers closed the bar on Friday, July 4.

The new committee has vowed to move on and begin a new era with the help of their 405 members.

They began with a bowling match last night blessed with balmy summer weather.

The court heard how the past month had been `financially crippling' for the Town Road club.

Spirits were locked up and pumps switched off when police found staff serving alcoholic drinks 10 months after the licence had run out.

Mrs Joan Earnshaw has now replaced Roger Jessop as secretary.

It was his role to apply for any new licences.

He described his former duties in court as: "The general good order of the club, making sure it was run without trouble."

The previous licence had been granted for 10 years and he said he did not know it expired in October.

Then, on learning a new licence was needed, he failed to tell fellow committee members.

Two letters sent by police to Mr Jessop in May reminding him the club could not sell alcohol were not passed to the rest of the committee.

"The matter was never raised in any of the committee meetings that I was present at," said Mrs Earnshaw.

"I finally became aware of it when I was sitting in the club on a Friday night and the police came in."

An extraordinary general meeting took place last Monday. Sixty-three members attended.

"We explained what had happened because there were rumours going round he village," said Mrs Earnshaw.

Miss Helen Wilson, representing the committee, said: "The delay has been financially crippling to the club."

After successfully applying for the 12-month Club Registration Certificate, president Mr Roger Marsden said the club was in sound financial shape but that takings had been hit.

"It's has been closed throughout this super weather. Hopefully people will support us."

Related story