A MAJOR provider of services to elderly people is set to close.

The Bradbury Centre, Millom’s Age UK building, is due to close its doors at the end of the month.

The centre, in St George’s Road, is home to a number of clubs and services and employs two staff as well as volunteers.

Angela Dixon, the deputy mayor of Millom, said it would be a “big loss” for the town.

She said: “It is an incredibly important place for elderly people in the town, which make up a lot of the population.

“We have seen so many other services lost in the town and this is somewhere that offers older people lots of things to do.”

She said a central part of the building’s offerings was providing meals for people..

“The cooks there do so much for people in the town and they even cooked meals for people who had to leave their homes during the bad flooding.”

Mrs Dixon said she had received assurances from Age UK South Lakes that some funding would be provided for provision so the charity does not leave the town completely.

She also said she was hopeful the clubs and events provided by the centre would be replaced by volunteers in the town.

“We will carry on and help each other out when things are cut - it’s what we do in Millom,” she said.

The mayor of Millom Jane Micklethwaite said the building would be sold.

She said: “It is a sad day for Millom.

“I have heard it is to be sold.

“I have not heard much officially, but the services that Age UK were providing were so costly, clients could not afford them out of their pensions.

“The building was well used and staff and volunteers have been dedicated to providing services to the elderly.

“Some of the clubs like the Friendship Group will continue elsewhere.

"A member of the group said they had approached the Pensioners Hall Committee to arrange that as a venue.”

The Mail contacted Age UK for more information but no response was received before going to print.