A JUDO club which has been in the same school for 20 years has been kicked out.

Manor Judo Club ran sessions at the Willows Primary School, in Church Road, Basildon.

However the school has now requested the club finds another home by early August, as it “seeks to move in a different direction.”

Club founder and chief instructor, Sue Brushmear, 52, of Curling Tye, is angry the club has been given little time to find a new hall.

She said: “The judo spirit in me wants to fight this, and if we lose, we’ll go down fighting.”

“I don’t believe it’s anything personal, they get good reports on us. I was told the school wanted to move in a new direction.

“It’s just frustrating, because there’s no valid reason as to why it’s being stopped..

“We’re inclusive and have helped kids of all abilities and ages. Not all the kids can travel to get to the big sports centres, and the hall is ideally placed.”

Her daughter, Jasmin Brushmear, 23, of Westcliff, added: “It’s heartbreaking to see my Mum so upset, she loves her judo – it’s her world.

Such is Mrs Brushmear’s commitment to the club, when recovering from serious bowel surgery in January 2015, she insisted on being mat-side to help.

Manor Judo has praised the strong support it has received from parents and other judo clubs. The British Judo Association has also got involved in an attempt to find a solution for the club.

Ben Ferguson, 30, of Cattawade End, was one of the first pupils to attend Manor when it opened in 1993, and has credited the club for keeping him on the straight and narrow.

Mr Ferguson said: “I attended the club for 11 years and it taught me a lot self-discipline.”

“I am gutted to hear the news, as I was a problem child at school and it was the one thing I looked foward to each week.

They never gave up on me.”

Mr Ferguson went on to represent Britain in an Amateur Championship in Holland.

Mr Ferguson, who now works in construction, added: “The club helped us keep away from crime and drugs in the area I grew up in.”

Sean Tobin, executive headteacher at The Willows Primary School, said: “The letting agreement was up for renewal and the decision was taken not to renew it.

“The decision was made in the best interests of the school.”