Jarrow's Deneside Catholic and Social Club was wound up at London's High Court last month in response to a petition by the taxman over an undisclosed debt.

A hub of community life in Hedworth for more than 40 years, the St Joseph's Way club had struggled recently, finally closing without warning in spring last year.

Now plans have been submitted to South Tyneside Council to demolish the club and create a 40-bed care home.

A recent drop-in consultation event at nearby Hedworthfield Community Association revealed widespread support for the plan among residents.

Coun Steve Harrison, a ward councillor for Fellgate and Hedworth, said: "Most of the residents I spoke to seemed to be in favour of the care home plans.

"It looks like it will be a good building, and a lot of work has gone into the design.

"What I didn't want to see was the Deneside being vandalised or set on fire as it stood empty.

"My only concern with the plans is that there is only room for eight parking bays, which I don't think is enough, and this is something I have taken up with the architects."

After its closure last spring, the club was bought by Liverpool-based Associated Church Clubs, but it declined to reveal its plans for the building.

It later emerged the Deneside had been up for sale for £325,000 since September 2008 through Fleurets, a surveyor specialising in leisure properties.

A planning application for the care home was submitted this week by applicant Brunel Spire via Gateshead-based agent Mackellar Architecture.

The application will be considered by the council's planning committee in April or May.