FORT Matilda Bridge Club is appealing for help to get a stairlift so their elderly members can continue to play on.

The long-standing group attracts up to 40 people to any one session and open the doors to their Tarbet Street base nearly every day of the week.

But they are stuck on the first floor and their members – the oldest of whom is 98 – are forced to climb a steep set of stairs.

Now the committee fear that unless they can install a stairlift, people will be unable to keep going along and could miss out.

Maintenance man Pat McLaughlin, 74, from Wemyss Bay, said: “We have 80 members and the average age is 74 so we desperately need to do something.

“It would be fantastic if someone had a stairlift in their house that they no longer use.

“We would arrange to get it uplifted. Bridge is a great game and the club is a real social event for all the people who come along.

“It is a great activity for older people which keeps the mind sharp and is a great tactical game.

“I started because I used to watch people playing bridge at the golf club and I would think how people playing are really intelligent.

“We don’t want people to stop coming because they cannot get up the stairs.” The committee hope that residents who have a stairlift they no longer need, might consider stepping in to save the day.

Pat added: “It really would make all the difference.” In the long-run the club hope to raise enough money to move to another building that could meet all their needs.

Fort Matilda Bridge Club is open almost daily for beginners, advanced players, training and team games.

Some of the elite players also take on other clubs from around the area.

The club is open to learners on a Monday night at 7pm.

If anyone thinks they can help the group or would like to take up bridge they can call Pat on 521925 or secretary Anne MacLeod on 720044.