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Organisers of a popular weekly disco attended by hundreds of adults with learning difficulties in Liverpool say they are “heartbroken” after being told they can no longer party at Lloyds in Concert Square.

ACE discos have been held every Tuesday for nine years at the Lime Kiln venue - but now face an uncertain future after being told their last event will be on March 10.

Today licensees, councillors and the group that runs the discos protested at the decision which has left service users “devastated”.

Every Tuesday, from 11am to 3pm, Active Community Enterprise (ACE) holds the behind-closed-doors party for people with learning difficulties.

As well as giving guests an opportunity to make friends and have a good time, clients also wash dishes, clear tables, DJ and take money at the door to earn a wage.

Organiser Steve Percival was shocked by news given to ACE last week that the event would have to leave Lloyds.

He said: “The staff at Lloyds are really supportive of our clients. We bring in hundreds of people every week, who buy their lunch and spend money at the bar.

“We have people coming to these events from right across Merseyside and the North West, because there is nothing like it anywhere, where people with learning disabilities can be themselves and have a truly great time... We are upset, our clients are devastated’.”

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ACE say they have had no explanation of the decision, which has also caused concern among representatives of the city’s pub, club and bar scene.

John Hughes, chair of Pub Watch, said: “This area needs stuff of a daytime. Talk about giving something back to the community - this is fantastic, it’s possibly the highlight of their week.”

He added that, with the business closed at this time the events made the club money as party goers ordered drinks and had their lunch at the bar.

Licensee Steve Fitzsimmons, who runs Cream, also backed the disco and urged anyone who could host the event to offer ACE their help.

He said: “It’s one of the most financially successful events on a Tuesday. These events are part of our community... it’s been going for more than a decade and we are looking for someone to take this venture on.”

The ECHO has approached Wetherspoon, which operates Lloyds, for a comment.

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