A MULTI-PURPOSE sporting facility could provide the answer for homeless boxers who are searching for a new venue.

Shildon boxers turned to their town council for help after they found themselves with nowhere to train at the start of this season.

But plans for a new facility that would also provide a venue for other sporting clubs have temporarily been dashed.

Councillors had agreed that Boddy's Buildings, in Association Street, in the town was an ideal place for the boxing club, which was established in 1918 and is classed as an important part of Shildon's railway heritage.

The town council put in a bid for the premises, owned by the Christian Life Church, but have been told by the district valuer that the building has structural problems.

Tom Toward, town council clerk, told councillors at a meeting on Monday night that there was a structural fault with the premises.

He said: "It is not that the building is not worth the price now but repairs in a few years time would cost more than the building would be worth.''

Mr Toward said that he had made inquiries about getting a short to long term lease on the building so that in years to come the council would not be responsible for the repairs.

Wally Wake, who is on the boxing club committee and an Amateur Boxing Association official, said that the club was absolutely delighted when it was told the council was looking to buy Boddy's Buildings.

He said: "It would have been perfect but we were devastated when we heard the council could not buy it.''

At the moment the club is training at neighbouring Bishop Auckland Boxing Club, which offered a helping hand to the club but the boxers still want to come home to Shildon.

Mr Wake said: "Shildon Town Council are really trying their best to find us somewhere and we are pleased that we will have somewhere in Shildon but it is still only a short term solution.''