The clock is ticking on a fundraising campaign to put a new roof on the Piddlehinton Gym.

If the estimated cost of £100,000 cannot be raised, the future of the building could be at risk.

So far, a crowdfunding website has attracted public donations of just £235 from ten people over the past six months.

On a more positive note, £25,000 has been pledged by the parish council, local businesses and users of the building with more grant applications under consideration.

Unless the money can be found this year, it has been warned that the building may have to close.

The gym was a former drill hall, built in 1941, when the site was in use as an army camp. Since 2007 the building has been leased by Dorset Council to the Piddlehinton Gym Charity.

It is used by more than 200 people on a regular basis, including for badminton, archery, junior tennis, roller hockey and five-a-side football, as well as by other groups.

Those running the gym say new users to any of the groups would be made welcome, with the building potentially open to new activities.

The building also houses a multi-gym including electronic treadmill and exercise bike with space for table tennis, and has a kitchen, changing rooms and toilets.

Originally converted to a community sports centre in the 1950s, the building's roof has been repaired many times but has now reached the stage when patching up will no longer suffice and a replacement is planned, provided the money can be raised.

Over the past six years, the charity has managed to raise more than £15,000 for maintenance and repairs, but now needs help to meet the larger target.

A statement on the gym's GoFundMe fundraising site said: "Water leaks are increasingly common, with the structure no longer being safe to patch. Due to the increasing water leaks, the gym will be forced to close in 2023, should funding not be sourced and the roof not replaced.

"Due to the roof's size and the investment's value, the charity cannot cover the costs ourselves. We are now seeking kind public donations, alongside council backing, local business donations, and sporting grants.

"The gym is a vital part of the local community, so with your help we can ensure it will continue to provide many more years of service to West Dorset," said a statement on the GoFundMe website, appealing for help.

Donations can be made online at https://www.gofundme.com/f/piddlehinton-gym-new-roof-fund