IT was eyes down for the last time for punters at a popular bingo hall — with a 92-year-old woman taking home the last prize.

Mildred Sanders, of Crompton Way, marked the last night of the Mecca bingo hall in Breightmet in style, winning £200.

She had visited the club for more than 21 years, which is the same amount of time that bingo caller David Coffey has been at the club.

Mildred said: "It's an honour to be the club's final winner, and I wish all of the team the best of luck in the future."

Customers also paid tribute to the bingo hall in the pages of The Bolton News, taking our a message reading: "To all the staff at Mecca Breightmet.

"Sorry you're closing, good luck for the future. Thank you for your loyalty. From all your loyal customers."

The club will be pulled down to make way for an Aldi supermarket, with hundreds of loyal customers who continue to pour through the door to try their luck every night being left without a place to play.

Bosses at Mecca had fought to try and keep the hall open after the supermarket plans were revealed, but landlord Millfield Estates chose not to grant the bingo firm a new lease.

A weekend of activities were held to mark the occasion, with the hall's 35 full and part time staff saying goodbye to long time customers.

Staff have been given other employment options at the firm's other site in Bolton town centre or in Grosvenor Casinos, which it also owns.

Mr Coffey said the club's last weekend had been a moving experience.

He said: "Thank you to everyone who has shared the past 21 years with me here at the club in Breightmet. Tonight has been truly emotional."

The firm is running a free bus service to help customers visit its town centre bingo hall, which will run every evening from from now until September 6, after which a return ticket will cost £2.

TELL US: Send us your memories of Mecca Bingo Breightmet to letters@theboltonnews.co.uk