A WIRRAL pensioners' luncheon club facing the axe has been saved from closure today.

Age UK Wirral was due to shut the doors on its Greasby Methodist Church club today for good today, because of cash cuts.

It was one of four earmarked for the chop and followed the closure of luncheon clubs in Rodney Nelson Court, New Brighton; Methodist Church in Hoylake and Ridgeway School in Noctorum.

The charity's chief executive Myrtle Lacey had appealed for businesses to step up to help save the clubs.

She told the Globe today that the church has waived the rent and Birkenhead-based solicitors Canter Levin & Berg have agreed to sponsor the club.

Ms Lacey said: "I am very happy to say a bad news story into a positive news story.

"I would like to thank the church and Canter, Levin & Berg for their support."

The charity has organised lunch clubs across the borough since 1989, but said several factors forced a review of its operations including a fall in attendances and competition from pubs, cafes and restaurants.

In April, the organisation saw its funding from Wirral Council’s social services department reduced by £157,000.

The move was part of ongoing cost savings made by the local authority as it attempts to reduce spending by £109m over the next three years.

As a result, Age UK Wirral says it was forced to review its services and impose major cuts.

Other Age UK Wirral clubs unaffected by the cuts are: Lawrence Deakin in St Anne's Street, St Saviour’s in Oxton Road, Epworth Grange in Park Road South, all in Birkenhead, Maritime Grange in Seacombe and the United Reform Church at West Kirby.