A business club which opened in Bradford more than 60 years ago has been forced to shut.

The Bradford Business and Professional Women's Club, which opened in 1939, was closed down at a ceremony in City Hall yesterday.

Dilys Snowden, the Club's last president, said: "Everybody is very sad and it was a difficult decision to take but it couldn't go on."

The Club, which had more than 100 members in its heyday, had just 25 members on its books - the oldest being 90, while the youngest was 32.

Mrs Snowden explained: "We shut for a number of reasons. We used to meet at the Bradford Club on Piece Hall Yard but after two of our members were mugged and a number of vehicles were vandalised we were forced to change venue to the Hanover International Hotel. "This unfortunately resulted in a number of our members resigning as they felt it was too far to go. We also found it very difficult to persuade people to take office. "I was president until 2001 and we could not get people to commit to the position of president, administration officer or treasurer.

"It is also very expensive to get decent meeting rooms, so we called an extraordinary general meeting last week and took the sad decision to close the club down."

The reception at City Hall saw the Club hand over its president's chain of office which was made by Fattorini's in 1939.

The chain will be put on display by the Council.

Richard Wightman, the Lord mayor of Bradford, said: "I am very sorry to hear that an organisation which has contributed so much to Bradford is no longer viable."