It was an emotional night for hundreds of bingo players as the last numbers were called at their beloved club.

Beacon Bingo in Margate held its final games last night after the shock announcement to close the seafront club.

More than 300 people attended the club for the final game in what was a emotional evening but a celebration.

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All the staff called a number during one of the games and manager Graeme Corner says it was a "fabulous night".

The lights were switched off for the final time on Friday lunchtime and Mr Corner locked the doors.

Mary Pitt played at the venue for 35 years before the final game last night and says she broke down during a speech from the manager.

The 88-year-old played seven days a week at the club only missing days when she was ill.

Speaking to Thanet Extra, Mrs Pitt says the closure "doesn't make any sense".

"There's got to be a reason behind all this. It has deprived a lot of elderly people of their pleasure," she said.

"I've been going since it opened and it's not changed much but it's a social club.

"Mecca [at Westwood Cross] is good but they're not social like we are in our club. I'm going to Mecca tonight but it's not got the same atmosphere there that we had.

"It was a social club as much as it was a bingo club. The staff knew most people by name like we knew them by first names.

"Last night was a dreadful night. I've never seen so many tears in my life. I think they could have filled a bucket up.

"I would sit in the same seat and would walk in and my board and my friend's board was set up. They said to me 'are you going to take the seat with you?'. That tells you what the staff were like.

"There were so many different things in that went on in there you just laughed about.

"I like going out and I'm coming up for 89 and just want to make the most my life now.

"Surely there's somebody out there that wants to open a bingo hall. It would make a lot of people over the moon. I'd be over the moon.

"Give it a week and the regular people come back and it will be back to how it is now and it's just somewhere to go.

"My birthday was always brilliant down there and would celebrate and the manager would buy a drink at the bar for me."

Beacon’s parent company, Praesepe Group, say financial losses in previous years proved too much, while thanking staff for their service.

Mark Schertle, chief operating officer, said: “The outstanding contribution of all Praesepe staff and management at this club for over seven years has enabled us to provide a great service to the local community.

“Unfortunately, despite these efforts, the bingo club has made a significant trading loss for the past few years.”

But in the final few weeks, business has been booming for the club with an increase of 40% footfall since the closure was announced.

The venue attracted more than 1,000 players every week.