A north-east boxing club, who have been training for two years without a ring, have bounced back off the ropes at a disused former RAF base.
Peterhead Boxing Club have taken over the forces’s former NAAFI site at Boddam.
They plan to refurbish it as a community centre which could ensure their ability to train champions for years to come.
Built in 1952 as part of a Cold War effort against the former USSR, RAF Buchan began life as an air defence radar unit.
Manned operations formally ceased in November 2004 and the domestic site was officially downsized four months later.
In 2009, the Officers’ Mess was converted into the four-star Buchan Braes Hotel.
And now, the boxing club are hoping that the site, which has lain empty for nearly 15 years, will rise from the canvas as the Buchan Braes Community Centre.
Last night, club chairman James Price said the club had already spent more than £10,000 on the renovations.
He added costs would have been even higher if it hadn’t been for the efforts of those connected to the club with a love for the fistic arts.
The 33-year-old said: “I am really grateful to all the volunteers who have given up their time to renovate what should be a great asset for the local community.
“We have had a lot of work to do, what with painting and replacing windows inside and we have had to do it on a shoestring budget.
“The council have been fantastic in helping us identify funding opportunities and grants.
“We have some big talents at the club and we want to keep training them with the best facilities.
“People of all backgrounds come to us to train and I think we’re recognised as a big part of the local community.
“We just hope this new site can secure the future of the club as well as bring another muchneeded community facility to the area.”
Stuart Pratt, the Buchan area committee chairman, said: “Obviously we are delighted that the community will have access to this site again.”