Navy helps out kickboxing youths

A kickboxing club for youngsters, which lost all its equipment in an arson attack, has been given a full set of new kit thanks to the Royal Navy.

Hythe Dragons Kickboxing Club lost £4,000 worth of training mats and equipment when its New Forest base was set alight in 2003.

But the Royal Navy has sponsored 30 new strips in time for the South Hampshire Open Martial Arts Competition in June.

The competition is being held to raise funds for more equipment.

(The fire) was so severe that the only things left standing were the urinals Club spokesman

The club was forced out of its base at the Queen Elizabeth II Sports Hall in Blackfield after it was gutted by fire.

A club spokesman said: "We were all devastated by the fire.

"Vandals had tried to burn the club down before but this was so severe that the only things left standing were the urinals.

"All our equipment and personal belongings were completely destroyed and we had to start from scratch.

"The club membership dropped off quickly and it's taken time to build up numbers again. "

Without new kit, the club - which has won a host of national and international titles - says it cannot expand.

A careers adviser for the Royal Navy, who lives in Blackfield, heard of the club's plight and called on his bosses to help out.

Roy Johnson, a regional business manager for the navy, said: "It is an excellent local club and the dedication needed to build up the club after the fire deserves support from the local community."