Totton councillors have vowed to hold talks with leaders of a senior citizens' club that has been hit by a massive rent rise.

Members of Totton and Eling Town Council will meet representatives from the Three Score Club, which has seen its annual ground rent soar from £5 to £1,425 in just 12 years.

The proposed talks follow the council's recent refusal to reduce the rent paid by the 400-member club.

Pensioners wrote to the authority at the beginning of April and urged it to lower the figure, but their plea fell on deaf ears at a meeting of the policy and resources committee.

Chief trustee Frank Smith raised the issue at the council's annual meeting. Mr Smith outlined the services provided by the club and highlighted the praise it had received from New Forest District Council and Hamp-shire County Council.

He added: "We would implore members of the town council to come along and discuss the issue with us. Let us show you the club and maybe you could do something to give us more help. We do need some support."

Now the new chairman of the policy committee, David Harrison, and the vice-chairman, Steve Shepherd, will meet members of the club to discuss its financial position and the rent charged by the council.

However, the chances of the authority agreeing to reduce the rent appear to be remote.

Cllr Harrison said: "The Three Score Club is a valued organisation, but we can't always give everything to everybody.

"There are huge pressures on all of us to keep the council tax down to realistic levels."

Councillor Alan Weeks claimed that the club was "flush with funds".

Deputy town clerk Neil Garfoot said: "We will discuss its financial position and what if anything the council might do regarding the rent."