A RIFLE club has been told to quit its Hereford home – triggering a frantic search for new premises.

Members of Hereford Pistol and Rifle Club were left in the lurch after being told its Rotherwas bunker needs to be demolished to make way for the impending Enterprise Zone.

But they might be feeling better with bosses identifying an unlikely saviour in the form of a redundant Second World War hospital in Kington.

Club secretary Bob Curry said the facilities are good, although they are still on the lookout for other sites.

“We’ve been given notice to quit our bunker at Rotherwas,” he said.

“The council wants to demolish the range, which has been there since 1961, to make way for the aviation development.

“We’ve got no say in the matter but we are not knocking the council as the site is going to bring jobs to the county.

“What it does mean is that we have to find somewhere else by about March.

“We have searched high and low and the Kington site is the only place we could find.”

He said the hospital is privately owned, enclosed and will hopefully give the club’s 45 members a range of about 40 metres, longer than the current Rotherwas facility.

“The old wards are made of reinforced concrete,” he said. “It is a good spot but there is a bit of work to be done.”

Bob said that if Hereford Times readers know of any other suitable venues in the county then they should get in touch.

“One thing that is good is old railway tunnels,” he said.

Anyone who thinks they can help the club can call the Hereford Times on 01432 845884.