An Isle of Wight gymnastics club is asking for help after the building company creating its new home went bust, leaving the club’s owner thousands of pounds out of pocket.

Legacy Elite, based in Newport, opened just as Covid hit, with owner Sharron converting an old cow milking shed into a purpose-built gymnastics club.

The milking shed was kitted out with basic equipment to get the gym started, and an ‘elite squad’ was formed, as well as running toddler and recreational classes.

The squad girls have achieved great results at competitions over the last couple of years, with the latest result seeing seven out of eight girls go through to the south region finals.

Legacy Elite’s gym has room for bars, a beam and a tumble rack, compared to mainland facilities which have foam pits, full-size sprung floors and more.

When Elite’s gymnasts go on their first competition, it is usually the first time they have stepped onto a sprung floor, let alone tumble on one.

The original plan was to expand and create a floor and foam pit in an adjoining building, but this was badly damaged in high winds and has since been removed.

Last year, the gymnastics club fundraised for some much-needed equipment, but this year, Sharron invested money upfront for a new steel-framed building to expand the club.

Unfortunately, after lots of delays, she received the bad news that the building company had gone bust, discovering that the building was outsourced to another company and the money she paid had not fully reached them.

There is now a shortfall to be paid to release the building – which has been built.

Legacy Elite needs to raise £3,200 to get the building and then transport it from the supplier to the Island for it to be assembled.

A spokesperson for the Legacy Elite team said: “Please help raise the funds. We are fundraising also as a club, as the clock is ticking before we lose our building and Sharron loses all of her money.

“The club has been through some really bad luck, but the results speak for themselves, and that’s down to the fully qualified coaches, hard work and passion from all.

“Any small amount would be hugely appreciated. Thank you.”