Controversial plans to axe luncheon clubs and council shops in Pendle have been put on hold.

An urgent review has been pledged for luncheon clubs after plans to close the nine existing facilities were revealed, to make a saving of £52,000.

They included a club which meets at Kelbrook Village Hall on a Monday and another which meets at Barnoldswick Civic Hall on a Tuesday.

Town hall officials had also recommended providing a fighting fund of £5,000 to help groups make alternative provisions.

But councillors have now drawn up 11th hour proposals to safeguard as many clubs as possible after the plans were widely condemned.

Coun Tony Greaves will head a working group which will consider whether each club can now be run by either a parish council or a community or voluntary group.

The closure of the clubs has still been agreed in principle, but will not take place before each one has been assessed.

Also deferred are plans to close council shops in Earby, Barnoldswick, Brierfield and Colne.

Proposals to shut the shops, to make a saving of £145,000, will be deferred pending a review by council leader Coun Joe Cooney, who will tour the locations before a further report is presented to the borough’s executive