After 126 years as the Forest's prime ballroom, financially-stricken Lydney Town Hall is facing the axe unless a benefactor steps in at the 11th hour to plug a gap in its finances.

The once popular venue, which famously rocked to the early hits of The Beatles back in 1962, has seen bookings falling off in recent years in the face of mounting refurbishment and repair costs.

At a meeting of the hall's Trustee Management Committee last Tuesday, members were faced with the grim truth that it will be time to call it a day if short term cash flow problems cannot be solved.

The writing has been on the wall for the 1889 hall for some years, prompting a shake-up of the management structure in 2012 with the formation of the present trust management committee.

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