Members of a well-established gymnastics group are heartbroken after finding out their club is on the brink of folding.

Gillingham Gymnastics Club, which has been running for 25 years, has 650 members, some disabled and with special needs.

Officials say they are being forced to leave their current home, which has been plagued with leaks, because they are no longer covered for water damage.

Since they moved into three units in Second Avenue, Chatham, 10 years ago, they have spent thousands of pounds replacing soiled mats and equipment.

Now having made numerous claims, including one for more than £30,000 ,their insurance company has pulled the plug.

Parents and coaches held a crisis meeting to find new premises after a deal to move to a building in Hopewell Drive, Chatham, fell through. The present lease runs out on October 1 and staff are urgently looking for an alternative venue.

A representative from British Gymnastics, the sport’s governing body, has met head coach and secretary Liz Paterson, who has also written to Chatham MP and sports minister Tracey Crouch.

Mrs Paterson, whose mother Gill Cutterham started the club 25 years ago, said the imminent closure had left members, who include disabled children and those with special needs, heartbroken .

Mrs Paterson, 43, said: “We are a charity and we can cannot afford to carry on.

“We have asked our landlords to sort the leaks out, but it is always only a temporary measure until we get the next downpour.

“We have got gymnasts who are entering top competitions in two weeks and is so difficult for them to focus while this is going on. We don’t like to use the word ‘closure’, but time is running out.”

The club runs a wide range of disciplines within the sport and has the only competitive squads in aerobics and disabilities gymnastics in the South East

Dom Elson, business support officer for British Gymnastics, said: “I am here to offer advice and discuss options. It is a very good club, renowned for its work with disabled children and adults and aerobic gymnastics with members receiving medals at British championships.

“Our priority is to keep everyone still involved in participating in the sport whether it’s here or elsewhere. It is the worst possible scenario, but there are clubs within a 20-mile radius.”

Landlords of the property in Second Avenue, Dave Webb and Rob Brown, admitted there were problems with leaks, but said they had done everything they can to fix them.

Mr Webb, who has units one and four said: “The fact is they were built between 30 to 40 years ago for industrial use.They are not suitable for a gym. I have only been charging 50% of rent since last October and have waived it for two months. I have spent thousands on repairs and I have done my utmost to make it watertight.”

Mr Brown, the landlord of unit three, said: “I do sympathise with them over not getting insurance and we have done our best to fix it.”

Miss Crouch said: “The club has been in contact and I have said I would look into it. I have also asked my departments for advice on what options are open to them.”