The future is looking bright for a previously under-threat social club after it was taken over by new management.

Sible Hedingham Sports and Social Club, in Station Road, relaunched last month following refurbishment work.

Last year, volunteers had feared the club’s long-term future was in doubt because of falling membership numbers.

Husband-and-wife team Derek and Tracey Ashmeade, who live in Braintree, have taken over the running of the club.

Derek said: “We want to drag it up by the bootlaces and make a go of it - we grew up frequenting social clubs and it would be a shame to see it go to waste."