BINGO staff who lost their jobs when the Deluxe Club in Southend closed say they were left in the dark over their future.

Staff were told not to come to work Thursday last week and had to wait a week before they were allowed in the building to pick up personal items.

About 17 workers, many with families and mortgages, say they were left in the lurch, with no information from the bingo hall’s owners about their future.

They have been told to expect more news following a management meeting later this month and are still waiting to hear if they will be paid their wages for the last month they worked.

A cleaner found the hall, on the ground floor of the Palace Hotel on Pier Hill padlocked shut by bailiffs, on Thursday, July 24.

Bingo hall boss Peter Hargreaves was at the building yesterday as alcohol was taken awa from the bar. Workers were also allowed in to pick up possessions they had left behind.

Mr Hargreaves refused to comment to the Echo about the closure.

One worker, who asked not to be named, said staff left work on Wednesday last week with no idea they would never return.

The worker said: “It was just sickening. We were phoned by the manager and told not to come in the next day. Some of the workers there have mortgages and young children.

“We didn’t know it was going to happen at all. It is not the workers’ fault or the managers – it is the company.”

Another worker added: “It was like a family working there. But this has left a sour taste in our mouths. We have to play the waiting game when it comes to our wages.”

A note on the door from Stylus Sports, the firm which runs the Deluxe bingo chain, warns any attempt to enter the building will lead to prosecution.

The firm’s other clubs in Folkestone, Eastbourne and Hastings all remain open.

l A window on the main entrance to the bingo hall was smashed on Wednesday night.

It set off the alarms and the vandals ran away.