As swingers' club Mingles announced it has closed its doors, the Gazette has taken a look back at the last four years.

Married couple Rebecca Freeman and Jason Woolf announced their intention to open the club in London Road, Lexden, back in January 2014.

The plans revealed the private members club would have a kinky corner for couples and dark corner couches with optional viewing areas.

But the bid was met with opposition from residents, who said the club was unsuitable for the area.

At the time they described it as an "inappropriate location" amid fears about opening times and parking.

 

Sir Bob Russell, who was MP at the time, also objected to the plans.

He wrote to the Colchester Council planning department, outlining his concerns the club, in Lexden, and said it would be better suited to a less residential area.

In March 2014 Rebecca and Jason got the go ahead for one year and announced the club would open in May.

It was revealed 500 people had already signed up to the club.

Speaking in 2014 owner Mr Woolf said: “We’ve had 500 people apply to get on the database.

“We’re quite shocked, because a lot of the people are within a five-mile radius.

“Demand was never a concern, but I don’t think any of us thought the take-up would be like this.

“Maybe it will be like the Ivy restaurant, in London, and you’ll have to book six months in advance!”

By 2015 it got permission to open permanently.

 

But the application attracted particularly strong opposition from Andy Hamilton, of Acland Avenue, Lexden, who claimed the club is “no better than a brothel”.

He spent many evenings outside the club protesting against it and described the decision to grant permission as “astonishing”.

Despite news of Mingles’ closure, he said he was not finished with the venue which is not yet for sale.

The club hosted their final members’ event at Mingles on New Year’s Eve.

Read more: Swingers' club in Colchester closes after four years

They told friends on social media they had exceeded the length of time they originally planned for Mingles to stay open in London Road, Lexden, and were “going out with a bang”.