An entrepreneur is set to take on the leisure industry big boys after transforming an old Bradford mill into a state-of-the-art gym.

Andrew Carr has invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in creating his new Steamline gym in Park View Mills, Wibsey.

And today he revealed he plans to open another three across the Bradford district - and put a sweat on some of the major names in the industry.

Mr Carr, 43, has been in the industry for more than 14 years, having built up a Yorkshire chain of tanning salons and a wholesale business focusing on the distribution of sunbeds and related equipment.

The Banana Beach group of studios now employs up to 70 staff at 15 locations, but he admitted negative publicity surrounding the health risks of sunbeds had hit business.

The company is now at the forefront of the new "spray tanning" phenomenon, but Mr Carr said the changing face of the leisure industry had also encouraged him to look at opening a gym.

"There has been a lot of bad press, but we are members of the Sunbed Association and have been working hard with the health and safety bodies to encourage their safe use," he said. "Sunbeds really peaked about three years ago, but the bad press has now become a seasonal thing.

"I think it is like anything else: excessive use can cause damage but, as long as they are used appropriately, there's no problem. But it has encouraged me to look at other areas of the leisure industry."

With support from Business Link and Barclays Bank he was able to invest heavily in the gym at Wibsey Park Avenue.

Mr Carr admitted competition in the sector was tough but was confident there was a demand for an independently-owned, well-run gym that can offer personal service.

"It is difficult, but I believe there is a market for everybody," he said. "Some people want to go with the big companies but there's nothing they can offer that we can't.

"Although the popularity of gyms has already taken off, the feedback we have had over the last six to 12 months is that it is still a growth market.

"With the growing concern about obesity, we are particularly keen to focus on the issue of children's fitness and we want to make it a family experience. Business is very buoyant at the moment."

The current gym employs ten staff and Mr Carr plans to open his next site in Bradford within 12 months.