TERRIFIED young gymnasts were forced to hide in an office for safety when a violent gang ran amok through their gym.

The gymnasts from the City of Newport Gymnastics Club, some as young as eight-years-old, were petrified when a gang of nine boys aged 16 to 19 smashed up the club causing £5,000 worth of damage.

Marcel Marenghiwas teaching his weekly boys class when the youths entered the club.

"They came in and asked if they could use the toilet and as I was talking to them one of the boys got in the gym and started being quite violent.

"I told them they were not allowed in when the duty officer at the club came over and said to ring the police as one of the boys had just assaulted him by smashing the door into his face.

"They started throwing punches and swearing. They were very threatening and one of them kicked in the glass door and pieces of it shattered everywhere - they were trying to intimidate us."

One boy was arrested but the other youths ran off before the police attended.

The children were terrified, crying and shaking, and coach Tina Bourne took them into a small office and locked them in until the police arrived.

The club was set up in the old squash court at the Newport International Sports Centre last August and vandalism has been an on-going problem.

Mr Marenghi said: "What we need is a new gym for the youngsters to train in.

"These children are the champions of the future, why should something like this spoil their chances?"

l Following the incident a 19-year-old man was charged with criminal damage, assault and breach of an anti-social behaviour order.