By Joanne Kelly

ANGRY parents have slated the landlord of a gym school for barring their access.

When parents arrived at the Wiltshire School of Gymnastics in Melksham they found the doors barricaded and the water switched off.

The club is due to move to a new, lottery-funded, purpose-built centre by the end of the month.

On October 27 solicitors acting on behalf of the landlord Gerry Bartram issued an eviction notice with immediate effect.

Parents and staff at the gym school found the lock on the main door had been changed, emergency exits bolted from inside and the mains water turned off.

Kay Wakeley of Queensway in Melksham, whose son Jordan, two, is a member of the gym club, was one of many furious parents.

She said: "I cannot believe this has happened. It is outrageous. I understand the rent has been paid and there is no way the club can be evicted."

Trustees were forced to sleep at the club overnight to prevent any further disruption.

Westbury company Eagle Plant stepped in to help and provided the club with four mobile toilets. Some children were forced to use the facilities at the Boomerang Safeplay next door to the club in Merlin Way.

Shirley Stafford, of Chippenham, who travels to the club twice a week with her daughters Rebecca, eight, and Jessica, three, said she could not believe the landlord had acted so badly.

"The gym school has kept us well informed of what is happening, but they haven't done anything wrong," said Mrs Stafford.

Trustee Colin Harrison said the club was in negotiation with the landlord.

"We are hoping to resolve the issues. The club is operating as normal. We are looking forward to moving into our new building."

A spokesman for the landlord confirmed that talks were taking place.

The club's new £900,000 building houses equipment worth £90,000 which will be used by up to 500 club members, six of whom are in the national gymnastics squad.