An amateur film makers' club is to leave its home of 42 years due to an "astronomical increase" in rent.

At an extraordinary general meeting members of Mercury Movie Makers heard how the club was unable to bear the increases in rent for the former school, in Church Lane, Esholt, Shipley, which had been converted to house a 60-seat cinema.

Mercury Movie Makers spokesman Dudley Wilcock, 74, of Eldwick, said: "After being model tenants for 42 years it will be a big wrench, but amateur video clubs are not wealthy and the new rent is well out of Mercury's reach.

"Sadly this grand little cinema in a village' will be no more, and part of Esholt's history will go with it.

"We are currently negotiating for a venue in the district and we will shortly announcing where that is.

"Wherever it is, though, will mean the club has to work in a completely different way.

"We had the building in Esholt on a permanent basis, so we were able to make it our home.

"Now, though, we will have to get a room where we will have to set the equipment up each time.

"It won't be easy and it won't have the atmosphere perhaps, but we are certainly going to carry on.

"It might reinvigorate the club in some way - we will make the best of it."

The club, which has between 30 and 40 members, has plans to move out of its current location in September.

For more information on when the club meets, or how to become a member, contact the club secretary on 01132 674868.