Firefighters tackle fire at gymnastics centre in Aylesbury
Road closures in place as seven fire crews respond to incident
A serious fire has broken out at a gymnastics centre in Aylesbury.
Seven crews, accompanied by four officers, were called to the fire at Lynx Gymnastics, Rabans Close on Thursday 7 May.
Fire crews have been deployed from Aylesbury, Thame, Amersham, Buckingham, High Wycombe, and Slade Park.
The centre has released a statement on its Facebook page. It reads: " Today, we are heartbroken to share that there has been a serious fire at Lynx Gymnastics.
"Most importantly, we are incredibly thankful that no one was injured or hurt. Thankfully, there were no children or customers in the building at the time of the incident.
"We also want to express our sincere gratitude to our staff and the fire brigade, who acted as quickly as possible to keep everyone safe during an extremely difficult situation.
"At this early stage, we still do not know the full extent of the damage, but what we do know is that the impact is devastating. The gym is more than just a building, it is a second home for hundreds of children, athletes, families, coaches, and friends who walk through our doors every single week.
"For many, Lynx is where confidence is built, friendships are formed, dreams begin, and memories are made. Seeing our home affected in this way is incredibly difficult for everyone connected to the club.
"With immediate effect, the gym will be closed until further notice.
"Right now, our priority is the safety and wellbeing of our members, staff, and community. We will be working closely with the relevant authorities and assessing the situation over the coming days. At present, we anticipate that this will be a lengthy process before we are able to return.
"We know this news will come as a huge shock to so many families. We ask for your patience while Lynx staff work through arrangements and next steps as carefully and quickly as possible. We promise to keep everyone updated as more information becomes available.
"Lynx has always been built on more than gymnastics. It has been built on people, on resilience, support, hard work, and community spirit. In difficult moments, those values matter more than ever.
"Lynx is also deeply proud to be a community-focused children’s organisation and registered charity, dedicated to providing opportunity, development, and a safe space for thousands of young people. Today, we are asking for the support of our wider community more than ever before.
"We are reaching out to plead for as much help as possible during this devastating time, whether that is through sharing our message, offering support in any way you can, or contributing to future fundraising and rebuilding efforts that will help us get back on our feet."
Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has closed Ravens Close and Ravens Lane, affecting access to the industrial estate.
Residents living nearby are being advised to keep windows and doors shut due to smoke and to avoid the affected roads.