A gym where medal-winning Team GB athletes trained is finally set to reveal its refurbishment as a modernised facility for the whole community to enjoy.

The renovation of Europa Weightlifting, in Temple Hill, Dartford, was due to be completed in September but has been hampered in the last four years by funding problems, Covid and a burglary which saw it robbed of £30,000 worth of equipment.

Ever since it originally secured £147,000 from Sport England, head coach Andrew Callard has been battling to get the work finished and open the doors to residents.

However, the speedy transformation he originally anticipated has been scuppered at every turn.

He was delighted with the much-needed windfall in December 2021, but since then the price of materials and supplies has sky-rocketed after Covid and the team realised it needed a bigger financial boost to complete its plans.

The quest for more cash took a further knock in June last year when the container where the gym equipment and builders' tools were stored was broken into.

Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Andrew said: "It put a stop to the building works because the builders didn't have any tools to use.

"Also, it completely dented everyone's enthusiasm. It was a real kick in the gut, not only financially, but it was upsetting. But we've moved on from that and we're back on track now."

Luckily, the team was able to secure more funding in November and the workmen are back to finish the project, which includes a refit of the weightlifting gym and youth centre as well as an extension.

The building has been used for the past eight years but has not offered ideal conditions for working out or socialising.

"The youth club was built in the 1970s and it had had no work done to it since then," said Andrew. "There was no heating and no hot water. It was totally run down.

"The numbers would fall off dramatically during the winter months because of the heating issues."

Andrew, 55, added: "It is going to be a much bigger and nicer facility."

But while the building work will be finished in the next few weeks, Andrew's ambitions for the centre are not quite nearing completion.

He is hoping to continue the transformation by raising funds to create a multi-use external area, known as a MUGA – a multi-use games area – to include activities such as games and five-a-side football.

"We want it to be open to everyone. Temple Hill it is quite a deprived area," he said.

"There are a lot of people there who don't have the money to go to a flash sports centre or nursery. We want them to be able to go to a gym where they won't be paying £20 to use it.

"Our aim is to provide a nice new, clean, affordable facility for everyone in the area to access."

And he is looking to invite various community-based projects, mother and baby groups, pensioner meet-up groups and fitness classes to make use of the facilities.

The youth centre and weightlifting club are currently closed while the work is completed but the doors are expected to open again at the end of next month (March).