A CLOUD of uncertainty hanging over the largest dragon boat club in Worcestershire has been lifted slightly after its lease was temporarily extended.

Since Worcester Dragon Boat Racing Club was told it would have to vacate its current premises by September, it has had no luck in finding a new home.

The club was featured in the Evening News in June after it was told it would have to leave its RNIB New College Worcester boathouse home.

The college, which leases the premises from Worcester Cathedral, has been sub-letting the building to the club for three years.

The club was originally told it would have to leave the building next to the New Road cricket ground, as a precautionary measure in case a revamp was needed, but its contract was extended after it contacted the club.

Nick Ratcliffe, principle of RNIB New College said the plans for a revamp had not yet materialised and he could not confirm how long the lease would last.

He said the lease would be assessed every month in case the boathouse needed renovating or repairing.

"The extension will probably go on for a few months into the winter," he said.

"It suits everybody."

Worcester Dragon Boat Racing Club, whose 60 members are aged between 13 and 56, has been searching for an alternative building to store its three 40ft long boats, plus heads, tails and paddles.

The club has helped drum up £25,000 for local charities since it was formed 14 years ago.

It recently finished second in the league in the British Dragon Association National League and second in the National Cup last weekend at the National Waterports Centre in Nottingham.

Nigel Leigh, deputy chairman, said it had focused so fiercely on competitions and sport that it left the club with very little time to find a new location.

"Now that we are out of competition season we will have more time to look for new premises," he said.

"I am really pleased about the news."