A senior judge has told members of a working men’s club, who became embroiled in a legal row after the future of a bowling green was threatened, to make sure they followed the rules and kept paperwork in order.

Lord Justice Lewison said the “unhappy saga” of the Blakeborough Social & Sports Club, Brighouse, might otherwise have “no end”.

He was speaking yesterday after a dispute over the running of the club – which had seen bowlers trying to save their greens from being sold to alleviate the club’s financial worries and attempt a “palace revolution” and police called in to investigate “allegations of financial irregularities” – reached the Court of Appeal.

Bowlers had sued social members of the club after complaining about the validity of a meeting.

They had asked three appeal judges to analyse the case because they were unhappy at the outcome of a hearing in Leeds County Court.

Appeal judges yesterday ruled in their favour on one point – concluding that a club president, treasurer and committee members had not been validly elected at an annual meeting.