A PENSIONER is devastated after social club bosses told her she must leave the home she rents from them just days before Christmas.

Susan Moorhouse has lived in Badgers Cottage, in Thorpe, with her son since 2001.

But now Thorpe Sports and Social Club wants her out so the club steward can move in.

The committee voted to give Mrs Moorhouse - an honorary club member - her notice, just before Christmas.

The vote took place on her birthday. She has until the end of February to leave.

The move left Mrs Moorhouse heartbroken and has been criticised by some villagers.

She claims she has spent hundreds of pounds doing up the detached chalet bungalow, which she rents for £720 a month.

The club had also started making improvements to the home.

"I am so furious," said Mrs Moorhouse.

"I didn't know anything was going on. It seemed really strange but now I know why they were getting things done.

"I am gutted that they have been so underhand.

"I don't see why I should be made homeless after 15 and a half years so the club steward can move in here."

Mrs Moorhouse admits the social club can legally end her tenancy but says it has been a "nightmare".

"I don't know if I can cope with it all," added the former school learning support worker.

"It is the fact that I have been here such a long time and then this comes out of the blue.

"I've never lived anywhere as long as I have lived here.

"I always pay my rent and I put bulbs and flowers in the garden so it looks lovely in spring and summer."

Treasurer and acting secretary Kevin Cooper said it was a difficult decision, but the property had originally been bought in 1974 for club stewards to live in.

"Unfortunately the situation has arisen where the current steward has got to move out of her rented accommodation and asked the committee to consider putting the cottage back for the steward's use, which the committee agreed to do in early December.

"We gave her notice around December 22 to leave the property at the end of February which is two months' notice.

"We have been told it is legal for us to do that and we are happy that the committee has got the power to do this as well. She will not be evicted unless she decides not to move out.

"It is a very difficult situation because we have a duty to do what is best for the club.

"We didn't want to have to do it. We would have been quite happy going along as we were, but circumstances have changes. It's one of those things that unfortunately happens."

Mr Cooper added: "I can understand people being annoyed and of course there are a couple of rabble-rousers around that despise the social club and are having their two-pence worth and trying to stoke up trouble.

"People have said we shouldn't do things like this but we are also an employer and the committee has decided to look after their employee by using the house that was originally purchased for that purpose.

"It's a horrible, heart-wrenching thing to have to do. Unfortunately we have to make decisions."