FUNDRAISERS are working flat out to raise £21,000 needed to save their club by October 14.

An appeal committee has organised five entertainment nights, starting tonight (September 17), to help rescue Blackpool's historic White Eagle Club - popularly known as the Polish club - from the clutches of a nursery developer.

Set up as a base for Polish airmen in World War 2, the Hornby Road site had to be put up for bids by the Charity Commission when the three remaining Polish war veterans who run it faced retirement.

The highest bid was £156,000 from the nursery developer, but members rallied behind the £135,000 rival bid of fighter-pilot's daughter Miriam Turek, who pledged to keep it as a memorial to Polish war heroes. They were given until October 14 to make up the difference.

Appeal committee chairman Bryan Mattimoe said they had raised more than £3,500 so far: "We've had such a short time available to raise the cash, but people have been very generous, both with their time and money.

"We're hoping the entertainment nights at the club will help us reach our target."

All from 8pm with £3 admission, they start with a tribute to Frank Sinatra tonight, followed by Big Band Night with 16 Men Swinging (Sept 24), songs, comedy and dancing from Chris Heaney and organist Jeff (Sept 25), a "casino" night (Sept 28) and cabaret night with DJ Gordon Wright (Oct 2).

Anyone wanting to donate should contact Mr Mattimoe on 01253 353761.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.