A PENSIONER has admitted stealing more than £130,000 from a Conservative club.

Barbara Hare, the 66-year-old long-standing treasurer of Dunscar Conservative Club, pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing the cash, which totalled £131,250, over a five-year period and producing false accounts dating back to December 2009.

Her son, 35-year-old Steven Hare, stood alongside her at Bolton Crown Court and admitted a charge of acquiring criminal property through receiving money belonging to the club.

Colin Buckle, defending Barbara Hare, said she cared for her 90-year-old mother and husband and was a woman of previous good character.

Judge Elliot Knopf adjourned the case until February 27 to allow pre-sentence reports to be prepared and granted the Hares, both of Darwen Road, Egerton, unconditional bail.

But he warned the pair: "I wish you to clearly understand, as far as sentence is concerned, all options are being kept open."

A proceeds of crime hearing was also set for May 8, when the Hares will be told how much cash they have to pay back.

Cllr Alan Wilkinson, president of Dunscar Conservative Club, said members had been appalled to learn of the Hares' crimes.

"It was a shock when we found out and it was very disappointing," he said.

"We have known Barbara for about 40 years, and her son. Everybody trusted her."

The crime came to light in Summer last year when a contractor, who had been installing a new bar area at the Hardmans Lane, Bromley Cross club building, queried why he had not been paid.

Police were alerted and it was discovered that Barbara Hare, who has served as the club treasurer for more than 10 years, had been draining the organisation's bank account.

Cllr Alan Wilkinson, said committee members were kept in the dark about what was going on for years as she would produce meticulous records appearing to account for every penny spent.

"Every soap or toilet rolls were fully listed. There were never any miscellaneous payments," he said.

"Everybody has said they trusted her - she was well respected."

He added that the club's members are puzzled about why Hare stole from them.

In the wake of the crime coming to light the club was given an emergency loan to help them pay their bills.

The club was founded in 1894 and has been at its present location since 1972, serving a total of just under 1,000 members.

Cllr Wilkinson said that whilst the future of the club is not in jeopardy due to the theft, it will mean a delay in decorating and modernising the facilities.

"It has not put us in a state where we will close down - we are trading well," he said.

"It's just set us back because that money could have been spent on improving the club."