A BOXING tournament may have to be cancelled because the organisers have failed to appoint a doctor to supervise the event.

Herne Bay Boxing Club sent out a “is there a doctor in the house?” plea this week as they faced the prospect of having to call off the dinner show they are presenting at the seaside town’s King’s Hall on October 25.

All the dinner tables sold out well in advance of the club’s first big event since their formation 18 months ago but the reluctance of doctors in the area to give their time to supervise the bouts has caused an embarrassing situation.

The Amateur Boxing Association stipulates that a doctor must be on duty at all tournaments under its jurisdiction. All surgeries in the area have been circulated by boxing club official Alan Evans but his request for help for the event from the medical profession has so far been ignored.

He said: “We are becoming desperate. I never believed we would receive such a poor response from local doctors. We are only asking for a few hours of their time but they are showing absolutely no interest in such a worthy cause.

“The evening has been organised to raise vital funds for new equipment for the club. Many youngsters benefit from the opportunities we are giving them to learn the craft.

“It’s a free night out for the doctor, and, of course, he would be our dinner guest. Surely someone can help us out or we will have no option but to cancel.”

Well over 100 non-dinner seats are still available at £5 each from Alan Evans, telephone 01227 372704 (home) or 0795 1476818 (mobile). The evening will start at 7.30pm.