AN Altrincham judo club is celebrating after raising thousands of pounds to buy vital equipment.

Altrincham Judo Club needed the funding to replace its very old and damaged judo mats.

a fundraising night organised by parents of club members at Fat Loaf restaurant in Ashton on Mersey raked in £900.

And a successful application for £1,500 funding from the Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund meant it could afford to replace all but five of its 100 mats. These were replaced by Altrincham Leisure Centre, where the club meets.

Head coach Jean Knowles said: "We now have a clean and safe mat area on which they, and the other martial arts clubs at Altrincham Leisure centre, can practise for some time to come."

She said the club would like to thank Manchester Airport and Cllr Mike Whetton, who supported the application.