Gloucester MP Parmjit Dhanda said he will take the fight to save bingo to the top.

Players and staff at Mecca bingo in Eastgate Street sent hundreds of letters to Mr Dhanda asking for his support in the hope to halt a Government's decision to raise duty on the game to 22%.

They say it is not fair that licensed bingo clubs have to fork out 22% tax on their profits whereas all other gaming venues only have to pay 15% gross profit tax.

About 70 jobs could be lost in the three main bingo halls in Gloucester – Mecca bingo in Eastgate Street, Gala bingo at the Peel Centre and Gala bingo in Fairmile Gardens, Longford – if tax becomes too expensive for clubs.

Labour MP Mr Dhanda said: "This is a crucial issue for us. Although the VAT has been removed, the increase on bingo duty has increased to 22%.

"I am supporting the bingo industry and I have arranged to have further discussions with Mecca head office later this week.

"I have offered to table the motion to support the bingo industry, which would hopefully be done early next week."

He said he has been down to the bingo hall a few times to see the staff and he has even pulled the numbers out.

"I am really concerned for the 70 local jobs in the bingo industry in Gloucester," he said.

"I absolutely think it is important to Gloucester. Hundreds and hundreds of Gloucester people like to play the bingo but there are also lots of local jobs that depend on it as an industry.

"So it is important not just as a leisure pursuit but also as a local supplier of jobs. I will do all I can do for them."

Paul Hornigold, general manager at Mecca Bingo in Gloucester, said he was pleased with the support from Mr Dhanda.

He said: "I'm very happy for his support and after discussions he is going to table an early day motion in support of the bingo industry next week. He is very sympathetic and has given his full support to the club, which is great."

Bingo fan Barbara Miller, from Melick Close said the tax rates could force clubs to close with the growing popularity of online bingo. She said: "I find this uncaring attitude very hard to take and they obviously don't understand how much bingo means to people. If clubs close not only will employees suffer but millions of customers will lose something special in their lives."

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