TEACHERS at a comprehensive school have vowed to step in to help pay to run Wantage youth club if funding is cut.

Staff at King Alfred’s School say the Sweatbox is too important to lose if Oxfordshire County Council decides to stop funding it along with 20 other youth centres to save £4.2m over four years.

King Alfred’s headteacher Simon Spiers said: “It is just not acceptable.

“We cannot let Sweatbox close because the young people would have nothing.

“We are determined to keep it open past April and ultimately we will have to fund it. ”

Mr Spiers added: “I am hoping to persuade Wantage Town Council and Grove Parish Council to support us.

“I hope people see this as a holistic approach to educating our children, but as a community school we would expect to be involved.”

Over the past six years more than 3,250 youngsters have signed up to the club, at the school’s east site in Springfield Road.

Mr Spiers the school would not run the club, adding: “I do not think the students want the Sweatbox run by teachers.

“Our plan is to keep the staff and volunteers doing the great job they have been doing.”

Wantage town councillor Jenny Hannaby said: “Everybody is committed to keeping it open but until we see a plan we do not know how much would be needed.

No one from the county council, which is due to decide youth centre funding on February 15, was available to comment.