MEMBERS of a social club are planning fund-raising raffles to pay off a fine and costs after the club was hauled into court after a bureaucratic mix up.

Amanda Hollingsworth of the Westgate Social Club in St Mildred’s Road came before Thanet magistrates on Monday for three breaches of the 1896 Friendly Societies Act.

The charges had been brought against the club by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), after the club failed to send through its accounts to the watchdog’s Canary Wharf HQ.

Representing the FSA, Paul Goldspring said the club was required to send its audited accounts to the authority but had failed to do so for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007. He said the authority would need £800 to cover its prosecution costs.

Club secretary, Mrs Hollingsworth, who said she had never been in front of a court before, admitted all three charges on behalf of the group.

She told magistrates the delay had been due to renovation work to the clubhouse, which had eaten into the not-for-profit club’s funds, meaning they could not pay for their accounts to be audited.

Magistrates ordered the club to pay £100 of a possible £600 fine for each offence, and £600 of the FSA’s court costs. It will also pay a victim surcharge of £15, bringing the total incurred to £915.

Speaking after the case, Mrs Hollingsworth said: “It’s absolutely ridiculous. The club had a refurbishment a little while ago and because it took much longer than expected and was, through no fault of ours, more expensive than we thought, we couldn’t send the accounts off in time. We still pay the FSA the charge it demands each year however, and the first thing we hear from them is this court summons.

“We’re a not-for-profit club that runs due to a team of generous volunteers. We didn’t have the kind of money needed to sort out our accounts while we had all these other things going on.

“I thought the magistrates were quite generous in the end and we have got our accounts ready now. Despite the fines and costs, we will keep the club going, perhaps we will hold a few more raffles than usual.”

Back at the club, which organises bingo nights, dances and short holidays, volunteers and members were happy the venue would carry on.

Hostess Sue John said: “We were all so worried because none of us had ever been to court before, it was really nerve wracking. It’s such a shame though as I don’t think we did anything wrong.”

Member Joan Winsbury, 79, said: “We always come here for a drink and a chance to get out and see friends. There are some great people here and they put on some lovely events.”