INTERNATIONALLY-known Kendal Judo Club is planning a new £250,000 headquarters in the town.

Although officials were remaining tight-lipped over potential sites, head coach Mike Liptrott said the 44-year-old club was a victim of its own success and a new purpose-built centre had to be created for an ever-expanding membership.

A Make it Happen campaign was highlighted during the Kendal Torchlight Procession, when around 150 backers wore

T-shirts urging support.

The club has owned its present first-floor base in New Inn Yard for 18 years.

Hopes of opening doors to disabled and handicapped members cannot progress until a new HQ is established.

Mr Liptrott said it was thought the sale of the old site, plus grants, would leave the club with about £70,000 to find and hoped a mammoth fund-raising offensive would include corporate sponsorship.

With around 200 members, the club includes six national squad players and 13 on the North West area cadet team.

During the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, the English team stayed and trained in Kendal, before winning eight gold, four silver and one bronze medals.

"Kendal clearly has a place in the continuing success of British Judo, but as well as the elite, and other able-bodied players, we feel we have a moral obligation to accommodate disabled and handicapped players," said Mr Liptrott.

He added the organisation was a community amateur sports club, not a business, and would be relying on benevolence to bridge the gap between what it had and what it would need.

Details of possible sites will be revealed in the near future, says the club.