BURY Gymnastics club has renamed its sport centre in memory of a much loved coach.

The newly dedicated Paul Reay Gymnastics Centre was revealed at a special ceremony attended by Mr Reay's family, friends and club members, on May 12.

A new gymnastics beam, funded by £2,000 raised from a Just Giving page set up by Mr Reay's family after his death was also unveiled.

Mr Reay who had coached at the club for more than 30 year was diagnosed with bladder cancer in November 2016.

He died peacefully at home with his family last July.

Bury Gymnastics Club director, Keith Waddington said: "Paul Reay was instrumental to the development and success of the club for over 30 years.

"He loved gymnastics and seeing all gymnasts progress to achieve their goals and compete to the best of their ability, and the gymnastic world loved Paul.

"Nothing was too much trouble and he would help and assist wherever and whenever required - a true gentleman.

"Following his death last year the club felt that his role there should be commemorated and we thought there could be nothing better than renaming the club after him.

"We decided to ask permission from Bury Council to name the gym building in his honour.

"That permission was willingly granted which resulted in yesterday's naming, which was a surprise for everyone involved - especially Paul's family."

A father of two and grandfather of four Mr Reay was originally from Wythenshaw before relocating to Bury in 1969.

After retiring he dedicated his life to gymnastics in the borough for over 3 decades, first through daughter Stephanie and later as a volunteer and full-time coach.

During his time at the club he was instrumental in their move from the Mosses to the Goshen Sports Centre, and coached gymnasts from children through to adults.

He also took the club's gymnasts around the world including to Germany and Woodbury and Philadelphia in the USA.

Well recognised for his commitment to the sport, Mr Reay was named Bury Coach of the year in 1999 and was posthumously awarded as the Bury Sports Awards 2017 Unsung Hero.

The North West Gymnastics Championships have also been renamed in his memory.

Mr Reay's daughter, Samantha Taylor, said: "We didn't want people sending lots of flowers to my dad's funeral so we set up a Just Giving page to fundraise for Bury Gymnastics Club.

"We felt it was the right place and the right thing to do given the time my dad had given up for this place."

Her sister, Stephanie Reay, aged 43, added: "We are overwhelmed. It was a surprise that the club was named after my dad.

"It was an honour to present the beam and we are very proud of him.

"There was no question of what we were going to do with the money that we raised. It was always going to go back into the club.

"Hopefully his legacy will continue with the children at the club, and my own daughter does gymnastics here so hopefully she will get to use the beam."