Ludlow Boxing Club enjoys boost from Olympic Games

Ludlow Boxing Club, in the town's Sandpits estate, has seen its numbers rise from 26 to 70 as youngsters flock to try their luck in the ring after watching the sport during the Games.

It is a major boost for the club, which is having a £65,000 purpose-made club built off Wheeler Road. Work started in October and the metal frame of the building is expected to be set up in the next few days. It is hoped the building will be ready by the spring.

Club officials are now appealing for people with specialist skills, such as plumbers, plasterers and decorators, to get in touch before Christmas if they are interested in getting involved with the second phase of the work, on the interior of the building.

This work is expected to start in February.

The new club house will provide modern facilities for members who range from 10 to 30. There will also be a community room for groups and families on the Sandpits estate to use.

The club meets at the nearby Rockspring Community Centre while work on the new building is carried out. Sessions are held on Mondays and Wednesdays between 7pm and 9pm.

Flo Hadley, secretary of the boxing club, said: "Membership has boomed since the Olympics.We had 26 people on the books before the summer – now we have 70.

"The aim of the new club is to make sure our members can access good facilities. We have 13 carded fighters who can compete in external boxing matches and some who can take part in championship bouts.

This is a real community partnership between the boxing club and people living on the Sandpits estate and the new club will be a community venue.

"Things are on schedule at the moment but we would love to hear from people who will be able to offer specialist skills to help with the work on the interior of the building in the new year."

Anyone interested in getting involved with phase two of the building project can contact Mrs Hadley on (01299) 271762 or flo.hadley @btinternet.com