A SLOW boat from China is causing waves all the way back to Biggleswade. Last week Biggleswade Youth Club closed its doors because play equipment ordered several months ago has yet to reach our shores. The club paid Sports World in Bedford £3,400 for the

A SLOW boat from China is causing waves all the way back to Biggleswade.

Last week Biggleswade Youth Club closed its doors because play equipment ordered several months ago has yet to reach our shores.

The club paid Sports World in Bedford £3,400 for the equipment for blow football, table tennis, air hockey, pool table and basketball.

What the club didn't know was all the equipment was coming from many thousands of miles away in the Republic of China.

"We are very disappointed," said club spokesman Ken Lynch.

"We paid all the money we were given by the Bedfordshire Police Authority up front and were told the equipment would be with us by the first week in January.

"Without it we can't keep the club open so at a meeting on Wednesday night which was quite heated, it was decided to close the doors, which is very disappointing for the young people of Biggleswade who enjoy going to the club.

"We had planned to open the club for a second night a week but that has had to be shelved.

"We thought the equipment was coming from a local supplier not China. Now we have got to wait for the slow boat to arrive with our gear before we can re-open the club. We are all very upset by what has happened but we are now being told the equipment should arrive by the end of the month."

A spokesman for Sports World said: "The equipment is in transit but with the logistics involved there was always going to be a degree of uncertainly over the actual delivery date. But I have assured the club that the goods are on their way and will be delivered to the youth club as quickly as possible.