FRANTIC members of a Horwich sports club were today desperately trying to trace their treasurer to collect £10,000 for a racing trip to Scotland.

The 35 members of the Punters Club from the Albert Arms, at Lee Lane, had to delay leaving this morning for a weekend at Perth races after failing to receive their savings.

Treasurer Mr John Kelly was due to meet one of the members, Mr Keith Swanton, yesterday morning to put the cash in envelopes ready to be handed out to the punters last night. But when Mr Swanton called at Mr Kelly's home in Old Lord Crescent he was told by the man's wife that he had gone to the doctors.

Attempts by club members to contact Mr Kelly had proved fruitless and this morning the trip was postponed.

Mr Swanton said he went to the Bradford and Bingley Building Society where the club has its account and discovered that no money had been registered. All that was in the account was £26.30. The punters club estimate that there should have been about £10,000 in the account.

Mr Swanton said that it was the third year the club had been running and there had been no problems before. He said Mr Kelly was "well trusted and well liked".

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