Contest has to be moved

A gymnastics festival is being forced to move to a bigger venue because it cannot fit in Stafford's "pokey" leisure centre, it has been claimed today.

Organisers of the tournament have been left shocked after receiving applications from more than 200 youngsters desperate to take part.

And they have now announced the competition will be moved from Stafford Leisure Centre to Alleynes School in Stone.

Stafford and Stone School Sport Partnership, which is organising the event, said there were problems with the centre because there would not be enough space for the parents expected to turn up and watch the event.

He added that extra cash would be needed to supply a floor covering before the event so chairs could be put out for the spectators to sit on.

Stafford Council has denied that event could not be accommodated.

But Councillor Jack Kemp, labour leader of Stafford Borough Council, said today: "There is too much interest in holding down the council tax.

"They have gone for a very pokey sports hall that does not cater for the events that were held at the old Riverside Centre. And I would have thought the centre would have a floor covering already in situ for these events. You would not expect people to have to provide their own."

Steve Glover, assistant development manager of the Stafford and Stone School Partnership, said he was "disappointed" the tournament had to be moved.

"It is our big show of the year and we would have liked to have had it in Stafford," he said.

"The new centre is a fantastic facility but we were surprised by the number of youngsters taking part and the centre was not able to cater for the number of parents who would want to come and watch.

"Alleynes sports hall is slightly bigger and should fit everyone in."

Will Conaghan, Stafford Borough Council spokesman, said: "The council is working with the organisation to ensure that they can accommodate this event at the most practical venue.

"It would be wrong to say we could not accommodate them at the new leisure centre."

The date of the festival, which will see both primary and secondary school children giving a variety of performances and routines, will take place on Tuesday July 8 from 6.30pm.