A BOXING club coach has vowed to battle on despite the closure of the club and is urging people in Stockton to back him.

The Impala Fitness Club, in Frederick Street, closed at the beginning of the summer holidays following a legal row with Stockton Borough Council about the lease, as well as a dispute about health and safety at the club.

The club had been at the site for about 12 years and before then in a building in Prince Regent Street for nearly 20 years.

In that time, hundreds of boys and young adults from Stockton had trained at the club. Many joined protests against the closure.

The club eventually closed, despite enthusiastic backing from the local community but club coach Chris Bailes has vowed he will fight to try to reopen it.

He said: "The people of Stockton gave us this club and until they say they do not want it, we will carry on fighting. I get people coming up to me all the time asking what is going on and I honestly cannot tell them. The closure has left a lot of youngsters heartbroken, and why?"

A council spokeswoman said: "The club was evicted by court action after it persistently failed to provide details of supervision, qualifications of those involved, insurances, accounts and other matters."

But Mr Bailes said he has sent everything the council asked for.

He said: "The council told us we would not have had to close if we sent in the relevant information, but we did.

"I would urge all those who want to see it back up and running to knock on the council's doors. I intend to do so until one member of the public tells me they do not want the club, and then I will walk away and thank them for the memories."

A collection has been started by some of the pubs in Stockton town centre to help pay for future legal costs, telephone expenses and outgoings.

The council spokeswoman said: "We are currently exploring ways for the local community to be able to use the building, in particular for wider sporting opportunities for younger people from the area."