A CROWD-FUNDING campaign is underway to bring an indoor climbing centre in Poole back from the brink.

The owners of the Project Climbing Centre, based at the former Poole Sports Centre in the Dolphin shopping centre, are hoping to raise £60,000 to safeguard the future of the fledgling business.

Freddie Naish and his business partner Andy Long took on the derelict unit, which had been empty for six years, and opened the centre 14 months ago.

Mr Naish said they have struggled to keep up with the “enormous overheads” but insist the project is sustainable.

He said: “Provided we can clear our overheads we will be sustainable. The growth we have seen over the last 14 months has been phenomenal.”

The team have set out to raise £60,000 to keep the centre open and improve the facilities it provides climbers of all ages and abilities.

The campaign was launched on Monday, January 12, and has already raised nearly ten percent of the ambitious target.

Mr Naish said: “In the first three days we raised just under £5,000, which was brilliant.

“We have been overwhelmed by the fact that we have been receiving contributions from people outside the UK. People who have only visited us once have wanted to help.”

Since it opened, the centre has had more than 20,000 visits from local climbers and introduced hundreds of people to the sport.

It is also the base for various other sports groups including the Parkour Project, CrossFit Poole, Secret Circus, Poole Taekwondo Academy and BWT Physio.

To find out more go to theprojectclimbingcentre.co.uk.