A CAMERA club is stunned after being ordered to pull down the shutters on its weekly meeting place after 29 years.

And other community groups are furious at being given six weeks notice to find alternative accommodation.

Prestwich Camera Club have held meetings every Tuesday evening in the Exhibition Room at Prestwich Library since 1975.

But earlier this week their secretary Eddie Campion was informed they would have to find somewhere else to meet from March 8 due to remodelling of the first floor of the library.

An urgent commitee meeting was called to inform the other 19 members of the news.

Mr Campion said: "It was a bit of a shock for everyone. We have always had excellent co-operation from the library staff and have used the exhibition room for 29 years. I don't know what we are going to do now. We will have to find somewhere else to meet so we can stay in existence. We are all rather shattered."

Members of Prestwich Art Society were also told the crushing news this week and, although they don't hold weekly meetings there, it is the venue for their annual exhibition.

As a result they have had to cancel the forthcoming event in April. Chairman Peter Roughan said: "I am disgusted. This is the only exhibition room in Prestwich and Whitefield and we have been using it for 31 years. I even helped to put boards on the walls to make it into a suitable place for exhibitions."

Mr Roughan said the room is so popular there is a two-year waiting list for artists to exhibit their work.

It is regularly used by groups, with around 200 people using it during the week, such as the Monday Club, the Wildlife Trust and other community groups such as a keep fit and ju jitsu class.

Mr Campion added: "They could have given us more notice. We have our syllabus worked out six months in advance, with speakers and visitors. Six weeks notice is not adequate."

A spokesman for Bury Council said the exhibition room was being remodelled as a new homework/study facility and heritage museum but an exhibition facility was being retained as part of the refurbishments.

He said it is hoped the community groups could be accommodated in the Longfield Suite at no short-term additional cost after discussion with both parties. He added: "The library service is making every effort to try to develop council services on-site, whilst ensuring that no community group is overly affected as a result and we are more than happy to discuss the situation with any of the affected groups.

"The overall improvement and extension in services as a result of these developments will be considerable for the residents of Prestwich."