The boss of a Carlisle cheerleading club which closed suddenly says she is “heartbroken”.

Shirel Hayton, who ran Heroes Cheerleading Club, made the announcement after the troupe’s summer awards party.

Parents, who are demanding an explanation, have since contacted the News & Star to say their children have been left devastated.

However, Shirel says she is unable to discuss details of the closure for legal reasons.

She did, however, say the business was offered for sale to a coach and parent but they turned it down.

Shirel, herself a talented cheerleader who has competed worldwide and her parents set up the club nine years ago. But she said it has never made a profit, instead being subsidised by her family.

The closure announcement came at the Shepherd’s Inn, after students had been presented with their awards on Friday night.

One grandparent said: “Shirel was giving her thank you speech – then she just announced it was finished. No explanation. The children went into a state of shock. They were hysterical.

“Heroes is everything to them. They had all been on a such high from the awards, then to hear that news. It was awful.”

Although she said she was unable to go into detail as to why it was closing so suddenly, Shirel added: “Heroes was never a profitable business and has always run at a loss, always giving everything back to the children – new equipment, bigger gyms, show outfits, music.

“My parents have always subsidised so we could allow the kids to live their dreams. A lot of people don’t understand all the costs and time that goes into a business.

“I have put my life into Heroes for nine years. I lived and breathed for those kids, to make their dreams come true. It is heartbreaking that it has had to come to an end but it is out of my control.”

She added that all sessions paid for by parents had already been fulfilled, and that money raised on the awards night – from tickets, tombola and raffle – helped cover the costs of the event.