ONE of Malvern's most popular sport clubs for children and adults is hoping to set up a new head- quarters.

Malvern Hills Gymnastics Club has submitted a planning application to convert an industrial unit at Spring Lane into a gym.

Club founder Lorraine Barson said the move was essential if the club was to continue its success.

It was founded six years ago with 15 children and now has some 600 members, aged from two to 48.

They practice all the gymnastic skills seen in the Olympics and take part in competitions and festivals home and abroad.

The various age groups meet six days a week at venues including the Grove School and the Edinburgh Dome at Malvern Girls' College.

"But the college now wants to use the dome for its own girls on Saturdays, so we have to find somewhere else," said Lorraine.

The planning application will be decided by Malvern Hills District Council.

If the council gives the go-ahead, the club will lease the building from its owner, Derek Holder, who also owns the Club Nine nightclub.

Lorraine said the gym club hoped to get a lottery grant to fund the conversion, including installing toilets and putting in apparatus.

"We really hope the council approves our application. This is the only building we've found that is suitable. It would really slow us down if we can't use it," she said.

An earlier idea for a purpose-built centre at Malvern Girls' College was later abandoned.