Attleborough Amateur Boxing Club officially opened its extension on Saturday when Commonwealth heavyweight champion Sam Sexton, from Norwich, cut the ceremonial ' hand wraps' at the Open Day.

Attleborough Amateur Boxing Club officially opened its extension on Saturday

when Commonwealth heavyweight champion Sam Sexton, from Norwich, cut the ceremonial ' hand wraps' at the Open Day. The gym has doubled its floor area to over 3,000 square feet.

The ceremony was watched by current members of the club, supporters, sponsors and local dignitaries including the Norfolk County Councillor, district councillors and town councillors including the mayor - Vera Dale.

Also in the crowd of invited guests were former Attleborough boxers.

Sexton, whose British title fight with Danny Williams was called off in February due to a hand injury, then delighted all the youngsters by posing for photos with them and signing autographs.

The opening of the gym extension was a culmination of a tremendous amount of hard work for the committee members who earlier that week had received a Community Award from Attleborough Town Council for their voluntary work within the local community.

From a virtually standing start just 14 months ago, the club now boasts one of the best such boxing gyms in Norfolk with over 200 members.

The gym is fully equipped and has a wall of gym mirrors, a large bank of punch bags and two training rings, together with all apparel required for training, including gloves and head-guards and protective clothing and it also has an outside running track.

The club is holding its second annual duck race on April 2 to raise money for club funds which will see 1,000 plastic ducks race down a local river.

It is also currently looking to raise monies towards a club minibus which it would like to purchase to enable members to attend competition events and also to collect boxers who do not have transport for training sessions.

New members are always welcome to the structured training sessions and subscriptions are deliberately kept low (�1.50 for under 17's & �2.50 for 17's and over) so the facility is available for all.

For more details look on the club website www.attleboroughamateurboxingclub.co.uk or email succeed@attleboroughabc.co.uk

For further details of the event or about the club contact chairman Jeremy Burton on 07770 886 732.