PENSIONERS at a social club are going "hi-tech" with the purchase of a new, electronic bingo machine.

Members of the Royal Albert and Saint Swithuns Social Club have been able to buy the device thanks to a £200 cash boost from the Making a Difference campaign.

The campaign is being run by Worcester Round Table, in conjunction with the Evening News.

Each month, there is £1,000 to give away to local clubs, groups and societies.

The money has been raised by Worcester Round Table through fund-raising events such as the annual bonfire and fireworks display, on Pitchcroft Racecourse, held in November.

By putting the money back into the community the Round Table hopes to be able to really "make a difference".

And in the case of the Royal Albert and Saint Swithuns Social Club, this has meant a step-up from ping-pong balls with numbers written on them to a state-of-the-art electronic bingo machine, complete with a TV monitor screen showing the numbers called.

"If they could all see this screen with the numbers on it, it will save me an awful lot of shouting," said Sonia Klee, club secretary, who wrote to the Evening News applying for the cash.

"Some of the members are a bit deaf and this will really help," said Mrs Klee, who is the youngest member of the club, at 65-years-old. The eldest member is 91.

"I'm over the moon. I never thought we'd get it," she added.

The 20-member club is for residents of Royal Albert Homes, off Fort Royal Hill, Worcester, and has been running for seven years.

It meets once a week, in the community room, and activities include trips and talks, as well as bingo.

Lovely

"We are run by a trust and our trustees do a wonderful job making our bungalows look nice. They have really made them lovely, with new bathrooms and kitchens.

"And we have a lovely club room - all decorated. We couldn't possibly ask them for anything else. All the money is allocated to the up-keep of the bungalows.

"That's why we wrote to the Making a Difference campaign being run by Worcester Round Table and the Evening News.

"Our new bingo machine will certainly make a difference to us all at Royal Albert Homes."

For your chance to grab a share of the £1,000 being given during April, read the panel at the bottom of this page.