A CARLISLE play centre could go under unless it receives financial assistance.

BrickStation, on English Damside, has been unable to open after the landlord took back possession of the property.

Due to the pandemic, the owner, Luke Crocker, was unable to meet the monthly payments.

He has now set up a GoFundMe page.

He said: "He’s gone over a year and not received money, so I don’t feel like my landlord has treated me unfairly."

Mr Crocker applied for various assistance from the government and a bank loan, but was unsuccessful.

"The government has offered support for various circumstances," he said.

"But for every kind of support structure that has been put in place, I failed to qualify for a different reason.

"There hasn’t been an overriding thing that’s helped protect people."

Mr Crocker was a school teacher for 20 years before opening BrickStation in March last year.

He said that this experience is important to his work.

"As an ex-teacher I’ve got a massive passion for working with children and helping children move forward," he said.

"I’ve got strong links with the autistic community and children with special needs.

"I found Lego such an amazing route for empowering those children."

He also said that BrickStation offered something that isn't available elsewhere.

"As an option for a creative outlet, where a parent can sit with a child and do things in an active way, it stands unique.

"There isn’t really any other type of entertainment where you are with your child doing things."

He added that the support from the community had been great.

"I’ve had periods of time where I’ve been worried that this isn’t the right kind of business and the public in Carlisle have just been amazing.

"They’ve been really supportive in how wonderful they think it is, really supportive in how helpful they think it is.

"They have given me such brilliant feedback all the way through.

"That is what inspired me to open the GoFundMe page."

The GoFundMe page has already raised over £600 and has a £8,000 goal.

You can donate to BrickStation's fundraiser at https://www.gofundme.com/f/keep-brickstation-alive-following-covid-closures