A SNOOKER club fears it could be forced to close if forced out from its longstanding home in Brecon by a local church.

The club is understood to have been based in Church House in Lion Street for around 100 years.

But the trustees of Swansea and Brecon Diocesan Trust, which is based at St Mary's Church and part of the Church in Wales, have through solicitors written to the club asking it to leave.

The complex of medieval and modern buildings in the town centre is also home to the administrative office of the Brecon Foodbank, which could also have to find a new base.

The foodbank, which distributes food at other venues in the town, says it has always understood the trustees had provided it with accommodation in Church House for free on a temporary basis. It hasn't been given a date to leave the premises.

David Williams, secretary of Brecon Church House Snooker Club, says it believes it has the right to remain in the property.

The club has written to the trustees seeking information about the buildings, which were left in trust by the first Bishop of Swansea and Brecon the Right Reverend Edward Bevan.

But he warned the club which caters for all ages, including children and is the only snooker venue in town which doesn't serve alcohol, could be forced to close: "We are in limbo until we hear back from the church.

"But it's likely the club would just fold. We've got two snooker tables and we wouldn't be able to find somewhere else to keep them."

Church House Snooker Club has a successful legacy and are the defending champions of the Abergavenny and District Snooker League which has seen the club awarded a prestigious Burroughes & Watts Challenge Shield.

Chairman Ian Morgan said the club is known throughout Wales and in the past some of the most famous names in Welsh and world snooker have played at the club, including former world champions Terry Griffiths and Mark Williams as well as Doug Mountjoy and Darren Morgan.

The club recently hosted an exhibition match where its members got to test themselves against current Welsh champion, 20-year-old Jamie Rhys Clark.

Mr Morgan said: "Our aim is to keep the club open and to support local youth in having somewhere to go. A lot of us when we were younger came here."

Member John Cooke added: "I used to come here in the 1960s, before I moved away, and my dad was coming here in the 40s."

The club is currently collecting signatures on a petition and also has a https://www.facebook.com/SaveBreconChurchHouseSnookerClub&quot">https://www.facebook.com/SaveBreconChurchHouseSnookerClub" target="_blank">Facebook pageto highlight its campaign.

No one from the Swansea and Brecon Diocesan Trust has been available to comment.

Read more on this story in this week's Brecon & Radnor Express - on sale now