Twenty-four hours of showcasing their skills will help 21 young people from Berinsfield Boxing Club fund a training trip to Tenerife next week.

For a week they will train at the island's specialised gymnasium, which is used by boxing stars from around the world.

In their minds will be the hope that a planned extension of their gym in Berinsfield will reach somewhere near those standards.

From 9.30am on Saturday to 9.30am on Sunday, three groups of boxers worked 90-minute shifts skipping, sparring, shadow boxing and showing off their punchbag and pad skills. With sponsorship and donations, the event should have raised more than £2,000. The man behind the club, trainer Mel Corrigan, said: "We have a marvellous group of young people here — boys and girls, aged between 11 and 22 years, all keen to be top boxers.

"They are all looking forward to the Tenerife trip — it is a way of combining saying well done to them for their hard work, giving them a holiday and giving them chance to train where the champions train. It will be something they will never forget."

The club caters for people countywide.

Mr Corrigan, a former boxer, said: "Seeing that gym in Tenerife will inspire us to produce similar in our club's expansion."

So far, the club has received £207,000 from South Oxfordshire District Council, but still has to find £104,000 for the full expansion.

Mr Corrigan said: "We're sure we can have everything ready by Christmas for work to start first thing next year.

"We want this to be a school of excellence for our boxers and open to individuals and groups from Berinsfield and elsewhere as well.

"It's very ambitious, but our youngsters are worth it. It helps us get the young people off the streets and train them in the disciplines and self-discipline that boxers need.

"And having those skills helps them feel better about themselves and they go with them in their ordinary lives."