It was eyes down for a final time today at Wolverhampton’s Mecca Bingo, which was closing after more than 20 years in the city.

The hall was holding its last event as it prepared to close, the victim of falling visitors and fears that the smoking ban will see even more bingo loyalists disappear.

Some regulars at the Skinner Street hall arrived by limousine today to make it a day to remember after the closure was confirmed this week.

Dorothy Tyrer, 73, from Wombourne has been coming to the Mecca Bingo since it opened in 1983. She plays three times a week and is devastated it is closing. “Everybody has tried really hard to stop the closure.”

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It was eyes down for a final time today at Wolverhampton’s Mecca Bingo, which was closing after more than 20 years in the city.

The hall was holding its last event as it prepared to close, the victim of falling visitors and fears that the smoking ban will see even more bingo loyalists disappear.

Some regulars at the Skinner Street hall arrived by limousine today to make it a day to remember after the closure was confirmed this week.

Dorothy Tyrer, 73, from Wombourne has been coming to the Mecca Bingo since it opened in 1983. She plays three times a week and is devastated it is closing. “Everybody has tried really hard to stop the closure.”Mrs Tryer plans to go to Bushbury Gala Bingo instead, but added: “It will be more expensive for everybody with travel costs and we can’t get our shopping there.”

Mecca had to close nine outlets in Scotland following the no smoking laws in March 2006 and said it had no option ahead of the English ban on July 1. The decision to axe the Wolverhampton hall was made mid-February and managers tried to find favour with regulars by putting on coaches to ferry them to the Springvale Way hall in Bilston.

But this only inflamed the situation and prompted a boycott and protest.

Susan Smith, aged 45, who is from Parkfields, was one of those who organised the petitions. She said: “This is the only place we have got to go in the centre of Wolverhampton.”

A total of 26 staff are based at the hall, although some of those will relocate.