ANGRY protesters packed into a public meeting to voice their anger at plans to build an Aldi supermarket on the site of Mecca Bingo in Breightmet.

The meeting, at Radcliffe Masonic Hall, came after thousands of letters were posted to homes near the proposed building site in Bury Road.

The plans have angered staff and customers of Mecca Bingo in Bury Road after it was revealed that Aldi plans to move onto its current site.

Some of the 40 Mecca employees were also angry that they found out about the proposals via the letters and were not informed first by Aldi.

The site is owned by Millfield Properties which confirmed that Mecca’s lease will expire in April.

One Mecca staff member at the meeting, who did not want to be named, said: “There are some staff who have worked there most of their lives but this is just about money.”

Aldi said the multi-million pound plans — which also include space for five commercial units— could create 100 jobs for local people.

Another person who is unhappy with the plans is 82-year-old Eric Brooks from Tonge Moor, who has been visiting the Mecca Bingo for the past 40 years.

He said: “I go in every night and it gives me a social life.

“I have met a lot of friends at the bingo and it is a great atmosphere for older people in there —that will be gone — there is nothing else around here for older people.”

A spokesman for Millfield Properties said the plans came after “informal discussions” with the bingo firm last year, with Mecca asking for a shorter term lease with a lower rent.

He added: “The landlord could not accept the terms offered by Mecca so gave consideration to alternative uses for the site — it became clear that the development of a new foodstore and retail space was significantly more viable.”

The landlord added that it “deeply regretted” that the proposals were announced publicly before Mecca Bingo was informed — blaming the formalities of landlord and tenant law.

Mike Clarke, regional property director for Aldi, said: “The initial response has been largely positive, and we will now assess the feedback that we’ve collected today as we finalise our planning application.”