A GYMNASTICS centre of excellence is to be created in Spennymoor, which should further a club's quest for Olympic gold.

South Durham Gymnastics club produces a number of national champions and Olympic hopefuls every year.

Until now, it has had to vie for training space with other sports groups in Spennymoor's council-owned leisure centre.

Members of the club's elite squad need to spend at least 25 hours a week training, but often have to take time off school to train, because there is no room for them to practise after school.

Plans are being drawn up to create a two-storey gymnastics hall at the leisure complex, which would triple the size of the club's current facilities and allow them to double the number of gymnasts.

Coach Nicola Preston said while the club can hold its own when it comes to talent, its facilities fall short when compared to the groups it is competing against.

She said: "What we have is excellent, but it's just too small. There isn't room to practise the things the children need to be doing for competitions.

The girls can never practise landing from a vault on to a hard floor, so the first time they ever do it is in competitions.

"The standard we're working at now means we are one of the top clubs in the country, but we don't have anything like their facilities."

The new £1.5m centre would house a warm-up area, changing rooms, office, kitchen, dining room and training area.

Despite being held back by cramped facilities, the club has earned a national reputation for excellence.

Last month gymnasts Hayley Robson, 11 and Rachel Collinson, 16, both came away from the British Schools National Apparatus Finals with gold medals.

Both girls are training with the Olympic squad along with Amy Fossheim, 11.

Two other athletes are also training with national squads.

Planning permission for the new centre has already been approved by Sedgefield Borough Council, which will donate £200,000 towards the development.

The club hopes a substantial part of the costs will be covered by a National Lottery grant.

But the final 25 per cent, or £100,000, will have to be met by the club, which is now looking for business sponsorship.

If you can help, contact Nicola Preston or Rachel Wright on (01388) 811877.