CLACTON’S first British Gymnastics centre will have a permanent home this spring when it unveils a 2,000 sq ft gymnasium.

For the past two years Performers Gymnastics Academy has been running classes from different venues across town.

But as demand for the club has grown, along with the youngsters’ progress, head coach and founder Kay Still knew it was time to find a proper home.

The anticipated launch date is the beginning of April when the club will open its premises in Stephenson Road, Clacton, which is an empty shell being kitted out with world-class equipment.

She said: “It’s been daunting but exciting at the same time.

“We’d been looking for a building over the past year but it’s difficult to get somewhere, and get a change of use for gymnastics facilities.

“The building is big enough to let the club grow but still retain its family-friendliness because we don’t want to lose that.”

Kay and daughter Tori, 17, a former elite gymnast, both of Capel St. Mary, started the club, and now the teenager is one of the coaches.

Together they are encouraging more children to get involved in the sport and are affiliated with British Gymnastics.

She said: “First it gives parents peace of mind we have the correct training and means those children who want to get into gymnastics more seriously have the opportunity to compete locally and regionally.

“Since people have heard about us we’ve had lots of people wanting to sign on.

“In the past those families would have to travel to Colchester or Ipswich as those were the only options if their child wanted to do gymnastics at a higher level.

“So having this affiliation is really good for us.

“We’ve still managed to win medals and have done really well out of the facilities we had, and had talented children and coaches come through.”

Popularity in the sport continues to grow proven by the launch of the Max Whitlock Gymnastics club in Colchester, and gymnastics-style clubs launching off the back of shows like Ninja Warrior.

Performers Gymnastics Academy will be running parent and toddler and pre-school classes, freestyle gym classes, development and competition squads.

To get more boys into gymnastics, there will also be an exclusive squad for them.

Kay said: “One of the great things about gymnastics is it’s great fun and gives children so much confidence, especially if it’s a sport they’ve never done before.

“They just fall in love with it.”