A TRAMPOLINING centre is shutting down permanently due to the pressures of the coronavirus crisis.

Sky High Trampoline Park in Peacehaven announced this week that it would be closing for good.

It said the virus had been devastating for the business. Customers were not feeling confident to return amid the pandemic and the company said it would have taken a long time for the business to bounce back.

The indoor trampolining centre – which comprises 11,000 sq ft of interconnected trampolines as well as party rooms and cafe – said it has had “zero income” since the lockdown set in on March 20 and limited access to financial support.

Staff had been looking at ways to adapt the business, but these proved too difficult.

Visitors said the trampoline park will be sorely missed.

It was an important centre for people with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), and staff thanked those who took part in its “very special Send sessions”.

Regulars were devastated by the news.

Rhianydd Summersett, 47, who lives in Hove, has been taking her son Owen Buddery to Sky High since it opened.

Owen, 19, has autism, ADHD and behavioural and learning difficulties.

Rhianydd said: “The special needs community will really feel the loss of Sky High.

“We always used to travel over to Peacehaven for it. We’d hire it as a group and it was fantastic.

“When your child has learning difficulties, it can be difficult to get to know people at the school gate and it was an opportunity to meet parents and for young people to get together in the holidays.

“There was also a sensory need – bouncing helps Owen self-regulate and get some energy out because he’s constantly on the go.

“He got to know all the staff over the years and they got to know him.

“He’s really upset it’s closing.”

Others were sad too. Ben Thomas was an assistant manager at the park when it was being set up in 2016.

He said: “It was really exciting at the time. Peacehaven hadn’t had anything like it before. Everyone got so into it, and it created a lot of jobs for youngsters.

“It was a real boost for the area and it had such a nice atmosphere.

“Peacehaven has lost an asset.”

Customers also praised the trampoline park on Facebook. One visitor said she was “so sorry for the loss of the business,” adding it would be “such a blow for all those who benefited from it, especially the special needs community”.