WAR veterans who regularly meet at a clubhouse could fall into depression after the Royal British Legion closes it down, it is claimed.

The club in Dunton Road, Leyton, supports around 80 ex-servicemen and women who cherish it as a place to socialise with people who have had similar, often disturbing, experiences of war.

But members say the RBL told them today it will shortly take possession of the club and close it, claiming members have not paid the rent.

This is despite club secretary Roy Darvill’s contention that the organisation has no right to do so because the venue was bought with £305,000 raised by club members in 1996.

He said: "It’s outrageous, it really is.

"The effect on veterans will be awful, they’ll become depressed because they’ve got no-one else to talk to.

"When there’s one person in need we should be there for them, but we won’t be now." The RBL claims the branch owes £24,000 in rent, but the club insists it is only required to pay a peppercorn rent to the Leyton branch of the RBL, as agreed in 2009.

Mr Darvill ended a legal challenge when he was advised it could cost up to £30,000 to take the case to court.

The veteran of a Cyprus peacekeeping mission in the 1950s added: "I’m lost for words because it’s unbelievable. It’s a charity that doesn’t care for the people it’s meant to help."

Mr Darvill hopes to seek support from Leyton MP John Cryer, and is checking archives for the original title and deeds which he hopes will prove the building does not belong to the RBL.

The Guardian is awaiting comment from the RBL.

A spokeswoman previously said: "The club is owned by the RBL under the terms of a charitable trust, not by the club. We are currently seeking to agree a settlement figure regarding money that is owed by the club to the RBL, as the landlords, and then to secure payment from the club.

"If they keep to the terms of the lease then there will be no question of them being required to vacate.

"RBL clubs are run entirely separately from the RBL’s branches and welfare work and are licensed to use the RBL's name under conditions which protect its good name and interests. The RBL has a duty to act at all times in the best interests of its beneficiaries."