Blackburn martial arts club faces closure after theft of equipment (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Blackburn martial arts club faces closure after theft of equipment

6:00pm Saturday 20th October 2012 in News

A MARTIAL arts club set up less than a year ago is in danger of closing after equipment was stolen.

Bosses at Dragon Martial Art Club in Blackburn were stunned when they turned up at the club to find £500 of equipment had disappeared.

The club, based at St Oswald’s Hall in Fecitt Brow, Intack, was launched in April after a £1,000 donation from housing developers David Wilson Homes.

Parvis Iqbal, who runs the club, said 20 pairs of shin and instep pads and 20 pairs of gloves were among the stolen items.

Also taken were two vinyl strike shields, six head guards, body armour and two Samurai Sam vinyl blocker pads.

Mr Iqbal said the club was preparing for its first grading event, where children are given their belts in front of their parents, when the theft was discovered.

He said: “We arrived at class as normal to get everything ready for the club’s first grading only to discover that more than half of our stock was now missing.

“The kids were really gutted, as were the parents.

“Despite this, the club still held the grading and, with the support of parents, the children battled on to be awarded their red belts.”

Mr Iqbal said the loss of equipment was a huge blow to the club.

He said: “The club fought very hard to obtain any funding and we were very grateful to David Wilson Homes for supporting us.

“We run the club as a community group for local children but we now find ourselves in a very difficult position in terms of progression.”

Police are investigating the theft and anyone with information is asked to call them on 101.