THERE are fears that people who use clubs based at a Netherfield church hall may lose out after doubts over the sale to another church.

They fear the hall may go if a developer buys the site.

Around 50 members of Carlton Operatic Society, 40 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers, and more than 100 members of a senior citizen group are based at the hall attached to the United Reformed Church in Netherfield.

The church is owned by the church's East Midlands Synod.

The Rev Terry Oakley, moderator of the United Reformed Church, said: "We did have interest from another church but it's unclear whether they can buy the whole site. They might be able to buy the church building.

"We are hoping that a partnership of community groups may be able to buy the hall."

Last month, the Evening Post revealed how the clubs thought they had been saved after the Seventh-day Adventist Church said it wanted to buy the building.

But users are now concerned that the hall may not be part of that deal.

"I don't know what we will do," said Catherine Sheppard, who runs the Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers group.

"We would be really stuck to find anywhere to meet because other areas are not available when we have got helpers available. There's nowhere else for us to go that we could actually afford. It's quite upsetting, I'm really worried about it.

"There is a For Sale sign outside and parents are asking what's happening."

Catherine said they moved to the church about four years ago from the Baptist Church.

Rachel Rees is the choreographer for Carlton Operatic Society, which has been based at the church for 23 years.

The group is staging the Wizard of Oz at the Playhouse in March.

She said: "If we did have to leave it would be quite difficult. I've got a list of places that I will try, but those places at the moment can't do four nights a week so we would have to have rehearsals in different places.

"It's sad. Everybody who has ever been involved with Carlton Operatic, they knows that we always go to Netherfield, we've been there for so long.

"We have not got the finances to purchase it. The Guides and Rangers are not in a position to do so. There's still a bit of uncertainty, there's just not much we can do in this climate."

The church closed in August because of a dwindling congregation.

claire.carter@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk