GYMNASTS are appealing for help to find a temporary home while repairs are made to Bicester’s sports centre.

Later this year, the main hall at Bicester Leisure Centre will be closed while new flooring is laid.

Bicester and District Gymnastics Club has been told work could start in October and will take about eight weeks.

It needs to find an temporary place to train or its squad will be unable to take part in competitions at county and regional level.

Club secretary Emma Gould said the girls would be devastated if they had to stop training.

At the moment the club has about 100 members, aged five to 16, who either have lessons or are part of the competition squad.

Mrs Gould said: “We have a two-piece competition in November and if they haven’t got anywhere to train they lose skills and conditioning very quickly.”

Head coach Glenn Gamotis said: “We are already competing with girls who are training 20 hours a week when ours are training seven because we can’t get any more time in the gym.”

He added: “We can’t lose 24 sessions – we have got competitions. It’s a long time to be out of training.”

Anyone who can help provide temporary accommodation should email rich@rgould.co.uk