The future of a successful bowls club is in jeopardy because members have nowhere to store their equipment.

For 14 years, the Goring and Chatsmore short mat bowls clubs have practiced and played matches at Chatsmore Catholic High School.

But on Tuesday, club ecretary Bryan McCansh was told the school in Goring Street, Goring, could no longer accommodate the 64ft mats because a storage cupboard had been demolished to make way for a new building.

The Chatsmore club, which had 20 players, has already disbanded while the 40 members of the Goring club have until November 13 to find a new home.

Mr McCansh, 67, who has been a member of the club for three years with his wife Sheila, 68, said: "There hasn't been any provision made for the long-term users of the hall.

"We did not really know this was coming. It is quite humiliating because we have always paid our bills on time and done nothing wrong.

"Some of the members were quite shattered by the news. I have been trying to stay optimistic and tell them it will be alright but I am really not sure what's going to happen.

"The league have tried their hardest to help us and have juggled our matches around and let us play at other venues but we can't do that forever."

The cupboard was knocked down a month ago and club members had been rolling up the mats and stacking them at the back of the hall. But they have now been told the arrangement cannot continue.

Storing the mats in someone's home is not an option because they require four men to lift.

Mr McCansh said the club, in the first division of the Worthing league, has been struggling to find a new home because many schools lack storage space.

The two clubs had paid the school £90 a week to practice on Monday and Wednesday evenings. A charity tournament was also held once a year.

For many of the elderly members, the club is their only opportunity to exercise and socialise.

Mr McCansh of West Drive, Ferring, said: "There is one cupboard left for the school gym equipment but there is not an inch of extra space in there.

"Lots of schools have lost their storage space, which seems rather shortsighted when it could be bringing in money."

Ann Ward, deputy head of Chatsmore Catholic High School, said: "We have always tried to work with the bowls club and it is a shame there is no longer anywhere to store the mats. It is a health and safety issue for us. The mats take up quite a lot of space and it's very difficult to actually use the gym for the lessons."

She said the school would consider proving storage space for the bowls club when the new sports hall was completed.

Mr McCansh is appealing for anyone who might be able to host the club nights and store the equipment to get in touch.

He said: "It really is a shame because it is such a great club and we have a wonderful social scene."

The club require space to unroll four 64ft by 6ft mats and somewhere to store them afterwards. When they rolled up the mats are a foot high.

Anyone in the Worthing or Arun area who may be able to help should contact Mr McCansh on 01903 242734.