Rising green fees are a threat to the future of bowls in Harrow, according to one club's president.

As the last skip was thrown at Roxeth Bowls Club this weekend, it was not just the match that came to an end; the historic throw brought the curtain down on the club's 80-year history.

Now, president David Poole is warning other clubs across the borough that they too may suffer a similar fate.

He said: "Harrow Council said it would do everything it could to help us but from my point of view it didn't seem to do anything at all.

"The tariff it is quoting other clubs is more or less the same and I think we can expect more clubs to close.

"Last year they were charging us in the region of £5,000 but if we carried on I think it would have gone up to something like £8,700.

"Dividing that between 25 members just doesn't work."

The 67-year-old from St Margaret's Avenue, South Harrow, has been a member at the club for more than 36 years and says clubs would continue as normal if the council were to reintroduce season tickets for players.

In the past each player was obliged to buy a season ticket to play on the green while now the club as a whole is forced to split large costs among its members.

And while some other clubs can expect to gain members from Roxeth's dissolution Mr Poole feels this will not be enough to keep clubs alive.

He added: "For many this was more than just a club, it was a community, a family, and some won't want to go elsewhere.

"Some will go out of the borough and some will go to other Harrow clubs but this won't end problems.

"Saturday was a very emotional day for everyone involved with the club and we are saddened to see it all go."

Councillor Susan Hall, responsible for environment services, said: "While we appreciate the position of the clubs, the council is in a period of severe budget restraint and has had to make some tough decisions in relation to all its services. It was agreed at cabinet that the green fees charged to the bowls and other sports clubs would be increased annually on a stepped basis."