by Nicola Forman

Staff and customers at a bingo hall are pleading with the government not to increase the tax on their leisure pastime.

During the latest Budget announcement, the Chancellor Alistair Darling decided to increase bingo tax duty from 15 per cent up to 22 per cent.

This means that if someone won £100, they would pay £7 more in tax than they would have before the hike.

There are fears that bingo halls that don’t pass on the increase to customers could face closure as they are hit with increased costs.

Those at Mecca Bingo in Sittingbourne High Street are joining the fight and have organised a petition against the hike.

Manager Mark Brenton said: “For some people this is their only way of getting out of the house and meeting new people so to take that away from them is ridiculous. We’ve already got hundreds of signatures on the petition.

“It’s not just about losing bingo it’s about Sittingbourne as well. We’ve already lost the cinema next door, if we lose the bingo hall as well there’s nothing left for people to do around here.

“It’s a very popular bingo hall and my customers are very passionate about not losing it.”

There will also be a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament on July 1 and 84 MPs have now pledged their support for the campaign to get the government to review its proposed changes to tax on bingo.

Hundreds of demonstrators from bingo clubs across the country will be bussed into London to take part in a game of bingo at Old Palace Yard called by Ricky Denton from Wood Green, who will be dressed as Gordon Brown.

It is hoped that the commotion caused will encourage MPs to come out to meet the demonstrators.