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Some 300 bingo hall staff and regular players travelled to Westminster this week to encourage the government to ease up on taxation of the game.

According to the angry bingo fans, the game is a cornerstone of social interaction and community relations up and down the country.

Commenting on the attraction and importance of bingo for British people, Paul Talboys, chief executive of the Bingo Association, told the BBC: "Bingo is life and death for a lot of people, particularly the elderly in the afternoons.

"There’s not many places you can go nowadays where you can meet friends, have a cup of tea, even a glass of beer and maybe even win a few bob."

By raising taxes on traditional bingo halls, many players and businesses fear the popular past-time is at risk of dying out.

Recent medical research found that the social aspect of bingo keeps the elderly active, reducing their risk of age-related diseases.