A successful Halesowen sports academy renowned for producing international stars says it has been saved from closure.

The Earls Gymnastics Club was plunged into debt after being hit with a £15,000 bill when health and safety checks revealed some of their equipment was unsafe. But urgent fundraising by members and two huge cash donations, including a £3,000 grant from the Seth Somers Trust, means the club is more than two-thirds of the way to reaching the target.

Head coach Michelle Bradley confirmed the club was now out of immediate danger.

She said: "At last we are going to be able to afford the new equipment and have put orders in for the most important things. We have to keep going but we are moving in the right direction."

Top gymnasts were unable to use apparatus such as the parallel bars due to problems with the landing pit. The 16-year-old club has 400 members covering a wide range of age and ability. Top stars include international athletes Ryan Bradley, aged 22, and Kristian Thomas, aged 17, who were both part of Great Britain's Bronze medal winning team at last year's Commonwealth Games.

Ryan, who is ranked fifth in Europe, said the new equipment was desperately needed to help his medal chances in next year's Olympics. He said: "It's a huge weight off everyone's shoulders. Training for competition is hard enough without having to worry there won't be any equipment to use."

Fundraising efforts saw gymnasts shaving heads and pogo-jumping to gain vital sponsor money.

Commercial officer Jon Caulwell said the club was now drawing up a 12-month action plan to gain further accreditation and funding which will guarantee its long-term future.

He said: "The club is safe for now but it is fundamental we keep going. We have a lot of up and coming stars. For the area to lose such a facility would be disastrous. The effort so far has been monumental - everyone has rallied round."

The club was transferred to parental control in 2001 when Dudley Council announced it could not afford to keep it running. Council subsidies stopped in 2004, and the club has fought an almost constant battle against closure.