CHIPPENHAM Archery Club is facing the threat of closure after the latest in a string of events which has left it without a base.

In an 11th hour decision, Lackham College has pulled out of an agreement to let the club members practise on its ground. It leaves Wiltshire's oldest archery club in limbo.

Two years ago its clubhouse and equipment were devastated by an arson attack which forced members to relocate from Allington Field to land at Chippenham Rugby Club.

But the rent has been tripled at the rugby ground and the club had planned to move to Lackham College.

Now that plan has fallen through, as Lackham College pulled out on the day of the proposed move.

Chairman Mike Hesketh-Roberts said: Closure is certainly on the cards if something doesn't turn up in the next four or five weeks. You can't hold people together forever with nowhere to practise.

Lackham's director of commercial operations, Sue Bolhovener, said: On the face of it it looked as though it would be an ideal site and that they could use our sports field, but they wanted sole access for 365 days a year, and there was conflict with student and commercial activities."

Mr Hesketh-Roberts is now hoping the local community can come to the club's rescue as it did after the fire in June 1998.

With the tremendous support of the local community we survived and rebuilt the club to a better standard than it was before, he said.