DIDCOT Power Station's social club has been closed because of thousands of pounds in outstanding debts.

RWE npower, the company which owns the Towers Country Club, on Basil Hill Road, has repossessed the building after months of negotiations with the licence holder, Ian Gilbey. The company said it was owed tens of thousands of pounds.

A spokesman for the RWE npower said: "Payments were due in October 2006 and despite several meetings and discussions, the money had still not been paid.

"Eventually we made it clear in June we would have to terminate our agreement if the outstanding debts were not paid and last month we gave the operators of the club a notice which expired last week."

The building was a popular venue for community group activities, including badminton and social functions. They have been forced to find alternative arrangements.

Up to 1,000 people who are members of the gym may also have been affected.

RWE npower said it had helped two users of the club, Didcot Motorcycle Training Organisation and a local catering company, to find other venues and access equipment.

Mr Gilbey had leased the club since October 2005. He declined to comment. A statement on the club's website said it was working hard to resolve the issues.