Elderly Bromley residents and their families are heartbroken after it was announced a day centre was closing down.

Melvin Hall, in Melvin Road, has been up and running since the end of the Second World War, initially as a soup kitchen, before providing services for the elderly.

With around 120 members, it provides a life-line for residents who say they have come to rely on the services it provides, which include activities, companionship and hot meals.

But they were dealt a blow when a letter, which News Shopper has seen, informed them the centre will be closing around August this year.

It stated: “Over the last two years we have seen our income dropping to the point where we are having to spend out savings.

“The council has worked very closely with us over the recent years to provide support while we try and make changes that could make our service sustainable but is not able to help any further.”

MORE TOP STORIES Sidney Larby, 87, has visited the centre five days a week for the past four years, and his son Keith, from Main Road in Biggin Hill, told News Shopper it would greatly affect the family.

Mr Larby, 58, said: “It’s going to have a big impact on their life. It seems Bromley isn’t helping the elderly.

“I think they should have enough to help elderly people.

“It’s important to him and everyone else in the community for relatives to have a respite.”

Retiring from the British Rail, Mr Larby Snr lives with his wife June, 86, in Acacia Road.

His son added: “My father worked all his life and had three days off sick.

“My mother is going to find it very difficult to cope because he’s got learning difficulties, she’s partially blind.

“It’s going to have a major impact on my father and the other people down there.”

News Shopper:

June and Sidney. AK Photos

But the council said it had not stopped funding day services for the elderly.

A spokesman said: “Over recent years many people are making different choices about how to spend their personal budget resulting in fewer people choosing to attend day centres.

“As the number of people who wish to go to day centres reduces, there will still be day centre places but the service providers need to ensure that the services are financially sustainable.”

Iolene Durham, 76, has been coming to the centre for the past 19 years and was distraught when she learned it would close.

She told News Shopper: “Without Melvin I will be forced to stay in my flat alone 24/7 except when my family come to take me out once a week.

“The friendship and companionship mean the world to me as, being registered disabled, I would not otherwise have a social life.”

News Shopper:

The centre

Ms Durham, from Orchard Way, Beckenham, added: “I’ve got nowhere else to go. It’s terrible they’re taking it away.

“I was devastated when I got the news we have a laugh, it’s just a happy place to be.”

Shirley Homewood, 79, was equally devastated when it was confirmed to close, after volunteering at the centre since the 1960s.

From Victor Way in Penge, she is now a member visiting a couple times a week for the past decade.

She added: “This is absolutely devastating news, where are we all going to go?

“Melvin is my second home. Many day centres seem to be in financial difficulties others are the other side of the borough.”

There are fears other day centres in the borough will follow suit and close in the near future.