A BASTION of men-only bowling may have to open its doors to women after membership numbers fell to a meagre 45.

St Lawrence Bowls Club said life without women had its disadvantages and it was now considering allowing the fairer sex into the club.

Member Peter Graham, 46, from Ramsgate, said: "This club was set up in 1947 and has always been a men-only club but if we are to have a future, we need to look at taking on ladies."

In its heyday, the club had 150 members and a healthy waiting list.

Since the 1970s, numbers have dwindled to an all-time low, threatening the future of the club.

Mr Graham said: "We have to do something so we are holding an open day to recruit new members.

"We don't have facilities for women, like changing rooms and we are not encouraging lady members at this stage.

"There are one or two members against lady bowlers but the majority are for them.

"We want more members and are thinking that we need to open to lady members."

Vice-club captain, Len Anning, 75, said railway men used to make up a large chunk of the membership.

He said: "In the 1960s and 1970s, the club was predominantly rail workers from Ramsgate. Many of them are either dead or playing golf."

Despite its predicament, the club has held the trophy for best bowls club in Thanet for the past 14 years.

Member Bob Shilling, 76, explained that the club had to turn away husband and wife players because of the rules.

The club is open from Monday, April 26, to the end of September and membership costs £80 per year, which includes the use of facilities including bar and lounge.

The club's open day is from 10am on Monday, May 3, and potential members are invited to turn up on the day.