New sports facility welcomed by Jersey Judo

Tony Palmer (right) has been training people at Jersey Judo for more than 35 years

A new sports facility in St Helier has been welcomed by the organisation that promotes judo in Jersey.

The government has started work on an £8.4m sports hall at Oakfield in St Helier which includes a purpose built facility for sports like Judo.

Tony Palmer, from Jersey Judo, the body which governs and promotes the sport in the island, said the new facilities would be “great” for the athletes.

He has been helping at Jersey Judo for more than 35 years and is confident the work at Oakfield will encourage more people to try the sport.

The government wants the Oakfield facilites to become a "key base" for the sporting community

He said the new facility had a sprung floor meaning people would be "willing to be thrown around a bit more” because “it won’t hurt as much” compared to the existing facilities at Fort Regent.

Mr Palmer added: "Judo is back in the Island Games in the Faroe Islands and we want to prepare as much as possible for that."

Jersey Judo is starting new classes for children under the age of eight at Communicare from 19 September.

Lucas, nine, has been training with Jersey Judo for three years

Mr Palmer has been nominated for the BBC Radio Jersey Make a Difference Awards for his work at Jersey Judo.

Lucas, nine, trains at Mr Palmer's junior classes and said "I wouldn’t really have a coach" if he didn’t help run the classes.

Noah, six, also trains with Mr Palmer and said "I like doing fun games" at the classes.