A club on Portland has undergone changes to improve its role in the community.

The former Royal British Legion (RBL) on the High Street in Fortuneswell has changed its name to become The Portland Social Club.

The decision to disaffiliate from the RBL was carried out to ensure the survival of the club.

The club over the years has seen a decline in support from the RBL, with the club only receiving £3 from the £21 RBL membership fee.

The committee at the club decided to hold a ballot, in which members decided to leave the RBL.

When the vote took place, there were 141 members at the club.

However since the disaffiliation, there has been an increase in membership, with over 500 members now linked to the club.

The new membership fee is now only £10 per year.

As part of the change, the new committee and staff have been driving the new club forward, creating a hub for the local community.

There will now be more events for families, including BBQs, Easter egg hunts, seasonal children's parties and more.

The group will also now be able to fundraise for charities of their own choice, which will benefit the local community.

Changes within the club have already begun, with new signs outside, the decorating inside has started and a wider range of live music and entertainment has been booked for the year.

Club secretary, Neil Costello, said: "As secretary I am very excited to have the opportunity to be part of the change in the club, to be able to work with a new committee.

"The new committee has been bringing many new ideas to the table.

"We have an amazing and enthusiastic bar team who believe in the club as much as we do.

"I would like to thank Jayne, Kristie, Lisa and Hillary for their hard work and help with the change.

"I would also like to take this chance to thank the British Legion for working closely with us to help us disaffiliate, but the most important thank you goes to the members, both old and new, because without their support and their commitment to the club, it would not have been possible to be where we are now."