A boxing club has been giving a fighting chance after securing charity status.

Maldon Boxing Academy were left worried after the coronavirus pandemic caused the closure of a business that supported their rent.

The support was essential to the boxing club and it's day to day running.

But the club were given a lifeline when Mark Gooday, managing director at Heybridge based business, Ashdown Engineering and Meters Headphones offered to help the community based club.

Mark said: "Given these strange times I think that the local kids need something to look forward too and along with the obvious benefits of keeping fit the mental health benefits of getting out of the house and off of the streets is a major benefit.

"I was happy that I was able to offer some assistance in keeping the club going."

The clubs committee also applied to become a registered charity, of which they were successful.

Head Coach Leon Jarrod said: "We feel we are needed more than ever given what’s happening in the World today if we can give people something to focus on and give them something to work towards and somewhere to go then all of the hard work will be worth it."

The club is currently working on a reduced capacity to follow coronavirus guidelines but has been offered financial support for more local businesses.

The committee hopes to open up the gym to more sessions in the future and work with local schools on special programmes.

To help support the boxing club contact maldonboxingacadamy1@gmail.com.