Hundreds of people getting their skates on in Gloucester

A TUFFLEY group is getting its skates on – and is now more popular than ever.

Lee Little runs a skating group at Beaufort Leisure Centre, in Holmleigh Park, and said hundreds of people were now turning up to classes.

skater girl: Lynzi Ashley takes a break from the action at Beaufort Leisure Centre in Holmleigh Park.
talent: Brandon Thigpen shows his off his skills. Right: Noelle Johnson with her daughter Madison.
fans: From the left: Thomas Webb and George Grigg and, right, John Campbell with Mia Blakeway and Luke Norman.

"It's going brilliantly," said the 36-year-old.

"In the last three weeks the numbers have gone through the roof, we are getting more people than ever before by a long way.

"I don't know if it's because people are looking at alternative means of entertainment nowadays, but people are definitely catching the bug."

The class, which welcomes people who use rollerskates and roller blades, is run every Saturday from 1pm to 4pm and is open to people of all ages.

Lee, formerly a builder, has invested thousands of pounds of his own money into the class during the past three years and he is now doing it full time.

"It all started when I went to one of my step kids' birthday parties three years ago and they had a roller disco. It was really badly run and I though 'I could do this'," added Lee.

"And it just went from there really. Now my two step children, Oli and Daisy, both come to the classes and they really love it."

Downlands Artistic Skating Club also uses the facility on Saturdays from 10am to 12pm.

For more information, visit www.gloucesterskate.co.uk. Entry is £3 per person and skate hire £1 if required.