A SOUTHAMPTON rowing club are calling on the public for donations to turn a "drug run" archway into a storage area.

Southampton Coalporters Amateur Rowing Club based in Northam are asking the public to donate to their online page in aid of raising money to turn a disused archway under Northam Bridge into a storage area.

The clubs current storage area is cramped and difficult to access with not enough room for the bigger rowing boats and the archway is currently a flytipping hotspot.

Nick Chmarny, one of the volunteers and club members who helped get the campaign started, said: "We have been waiting a long time for the opportunity to do this.

"We're glad the council are finally on board.

"We support the local community, its got a good vibe and you see every age group here.

"The space is only used for drug runs and fly tipping at the moment.

"We have found hypodermic needles here once."

The total cost to cover the arch was is estimated at £80,000 and the club have already received support from Sport England.

The organisation, which helps to support and fund sports clubs, has donated £40,000 to the club to go towards the project and has also said it will match any fundraising up to £5,000.

The fundraiser page on crowdfunder.com has so far raised more than £5,600.

The page will only be active for 28 days.

To donate, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/coalporters-northam-bridge-archway-development.