A nationally-acclaimed Norfolk bowls club is in disarray after being told to leave its home premises.
Lakeside Bowls Club has left Lakeside Country Club, at Lyng, near Dereham, where it has been based since 1995.
Norfolk Leisure Ltd, which owns Lakeside Country Club, ordered the bowlers to leave because of rising energy costs and because, the company claims, the bowlers are not contributing enough money to keep it going. This is disputed by the bowls club members.
The indoor section of the bowls club, which had 132 members, has folded but the outdoor section, which has 28 members, will continue to play in Bawdeswell under the name Lakeside Pilgrims.
Bowlers were at Lakeside Country Club on Saturday, removing items from the premises.
Bowls club chairman Frank Haverson, 77, who lives at Gressenhall, said: 'With eight rinks this has become the biggest indoor bowls club in East Anglia and one of the biggest in the country.
'We have hosted no end of county finals and welcomed players from across the country.
'An awful lot of work has gone into making this club what it is so it leaves a bitter taste to be leaving this way.
'We have just started the season so this will cause great disruption to county fixtures, club competitions and inter-club friendlies.'
The club was opened by England international David Bryant in September 1995 and developed a national reputation for the quality of its facilities.
Mr Haverson said: 'We couldn't find a new premises for the indoor club. Players from all over the country who have played here have expressed their sadness at the news.
'The committee wishes members the best of luck in finding a new club.'
Cheryl Gallant, from Lakeside Country Club, said: 'It is very sad that the bowls club is leaving but unfortunately the members weren't spending enough money in the bar and, with rising costs, we couldn't afford to keep them here.'
Lakeside Country Club will remain open.
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