BRITAIN'S oldest independent socialist club is in danger of closing, members said today.

The headquarters of Bolton Socialist Club, founded in 1887, are crumbling and vital improvements and repairs are needed.

Yet the cash-strapped organisation, better known simply as "Wood Street", cannot afford to maintain its town centre building.

It has just four months to complete the work or else it will be banned from selling alcohol -- a major money spinner.

The building, which has been used by the organisation since 1905, was inspected last month as part of an application by the club to renew its drinks licence.

It was granted by Bolton magistrates, providing the work can be finished by the end of September.

Volunteers are busy fund raising in a bid to save the club, home of many campaign groups such as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

Club spokesman Eileen Murphy said: "We do not have the resources to do this work in the four months allowed by the magistrates, but unless it is completed in that time there is a very real danger the club will have to close."

The club opened -- ironically, in view of its political orientation, in the house that was the birthplace of local capitalist Lord Leverhulme.

In those days, the Socialist Party was a force in its own right in British politics. Members still technically sign up with the party, but it no longer exists.

For years, however, the club was known less for its ideology than for its unusual opening hours.

In a court hearing in 1979, which led to the club losing its licence, its 3.30pm to 5.30pm afternoon session was blamed for providing a rough and ready refuge for drinkers during pub closing time. It won its licence back in 1980.

Today, the club is used by various socialist groups. Bolton Trades Council, trade unions and campaign groups hold meetings there.

It houses an educational organisation which provides courses for asylum seekers and homeless people, and a drop-in group for Asian men.

The socialist club also has a long association with the Irish community. James Connolly, one of the instigators of the Easter Uprising, spoke there in 1910.

Members of Irish club Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, which runs a weekly Irish traditional music class on the premises, are organising an evening of traditional Irish music at the club on Saturday, June 29, starting at 8pm.

They are hoping to raise enough cash to fund the repair work, estimated to be more than £5,000.