A boxing club credited for its work with young people could be facing a knock-out blow should new funding and volunteers not come forward.

It is understood that Wigton Amateur Boxing Club could fold in a matter of weeks if help is not found urgently.

Paul Radcliffe, who's been helping to run the club since its launch in 2009, said it would be a "travesty" if the organisation was to close its doors for good.

The club's troubles have emerged in recent months after cash dried up -and a lack of volunteers willing to manage the charity means funding is increasingly hard to come by.

Mr Radcliffe took a step back from helping manage the club's finances due to family issues but leaders later discovered money was running short.

He's now come back on board on a temporary basis to help steady the ship.

In a last-ditch attempt to secure some support, Mr Radcliffe invited Cumbria's crime commissioner, Peter McCall, and the county's high sheriff, Richard Lee, to the club.

It has received help to stay afloat by the landlords of the Water Street base who've let them continue rent free for a period.

But the club needs funding quickly if it is to stay alive.

"We recognise there needs to be some self-generation of money, we can't always rely on handouts," Mr Radcliffe said.

"We've got a number of fundraisers planned but we need to have a robust management committee that have the right skill set.

"We've put together a business plan which has been looked at by a previous funder and they've said essentially it's all there but we need people in place to implement that plan.

"Without the people we're going to be in the same predicament."

It costs in the region of £8,500 to £9,000 a year to keep the club running, according to Mr Radcliffe.

One of the ideas to generate extra income for the club is to use the venue - and the coaches' expertise - to attract people in for fitness and nutrition-based classes.

"Not everyone likes to box but it's so much more than a boxing club," he added.

The club has been heralded in the town as a key driver in keeping young people off the streets, impressing youth workers and police officers.

It's one of the legacies of a teenage curfew that was imposed on the town more than a decade ago due to a rise in anti-social behaviour.

As well as its impact on the community, the club has also had sporting success with several adults and juniors competing for titles on a regional level.

* Anyone who can help should contact the boxing club on 07834371872.