Elderly people are devasted that a day club set up 22 years ago is facing closure because of a lack of volunteers.

Many pensioners find the club is the only contact they have with the outside world and the only day they get out of their house in the week.

The decision to close Parklands Community Day Centre in Malmesbury Road follows a shortage of volunteers, along with the decision by Westlea to close the Parklands building.

Widow Jane Allen said: “I have been coming here for years and we are all devastated that it is closing.

“I love the companionship, and when you live on your own this is what you want – it is a day when we can all be together.

“I might be getting old and a little bit deaf but that does not stop me from coming here and enjoying myself, but that will have to end when the centre closes.”

Committee members have found it increasingly difficult to recruit new volunteers over the past few years .

Organiser Rachel Collins said that staffing was a crucial issue, coupled with the loss of the building, and so the committee had decided to close the club at the end of July. It was hoped that another group might take it over.

She said: “There might be another group who want to continue it as it is the staffing issue that is crucial.”

She added that the committee had looked for an alternative venue but without success.

“We are disappointed because we allow members to get out of their homes,” she said. “Tuesday is the only day they get out of the house and have a hot meal provided for them.”

Volunteer John Truckle said: “The organisers and helpers are getting older and we should be coming here ourselves, but rather than just closing we thought it might be better to fold up and restart with a new team.

“We have spread the word in the hope that someone will say that should not happen and offer to run it themselves.”

The day centre is a registered charity supported by Age UK Wiltshire and funded by Wiltshire Council.

Members come from as far as Kington St Michael, using Chippenham Link Transport to get to the centre because they have no transport of their own. Anyone interested in restarting the day club should call Age UK Wiltshire on (01380) 735519.