MALVERN'S only nightclub has closed its doors, blaming new licensing laws and a poor Saturday night turnout.

Club Nine and its car park on the Spring Lane Industrial Estate will be sold off for industrial or leisure use.

Owner Derek Holder said a number of reasons forced the closure, including new laws allowing pubs to stay open longer hours.

"Basically, the 24-hour licensing just hit it on the head," he said. "It's a shame really, it's a lovely club."

Under the new licensing laws, the club was permitted to open daily between 11am and 4.45am, subject to conditions.

Busy on Friday nights, Mr Holder said Saturday nights were not so good and the sums did not add up.

"We thought we'd be very busy on Friday and really busy on Saturday but Saturday never took off," he said.

High business and insurance rates also contributed to the closure.

People disappointed by the news include salsa dancing fans attending new Saturday night sessions at the club, which created 40 jobs when it opened in 1999 as the Lighthouse, later changing its name to Club Nine.

Mr Holder also owns Tramps nightclub in Worcester, which has not been affected by the closure.

He would not reveal how many people were employed at Club Nine when it closed but said all the staff had been taken care of, with most transferred to jobs in Worcester.

Mr Holder said it had been difficult to find staff for the Malvern club.

Richard Nash, former manager at Club Nine, said the closure was unexpected by staff because business had been satisfactory.

The sale is being handled by Humberts estate agents.