A WESTON sports club may be forced to fold – because North Somerset Council cannot afford to cut the grass as often where it practises.

Clarence Park Croquet Club, whose oldest member is 97 years old, may have to shut its clubhouse doors for good unless it can find someone else to cut and prepare its green cheaply.

Members received a call this week from a council officer telling them that after decades of cutting the grass in that part of Clarence Park East, the authority would be forced to scrap much of that as part of urgent cost-cutting measures.

North Somerset Council needs to save more than �47million over the next four years and is being forced to make drastic cuts to services.

Club captain Derek Cromwell, aged 80, said: “The council obviously feels that a group of old people is something it can cut back on.

“It’s hard luck on us.

“We have one member who is 97 years old and the club keeps her going and another member has said it is the only thing she has.

“We can have the grass cut privately, but we need to see if we can afford it.

“If not the group will have to fold.”

North Somerset Council used to cut the grass for the group, formerly part of Weston Croquet Club, every few weeks between April and October.

It would also line the green for the members, who practised three times a week.

A North Somerset Council spokesman said: “We are not going to be manicuring the croquet lawn to the same standard as it cost us �16,000 a year.

“At a time when we are facing a 40 per cent cut in our budget over the next four years we have much more pressing priorities.

“However, we are not going to abandon the croquet club - we will provide some help through a volunteer scheme but it won’t be to the same standard.”