A fitness company has invested more than £100,000 in a new budget gym for Skipton town centre.

Intershape Fitness, based in Colne, says it has opened in the town because it believes it can offer something different to existing gyms and because of the number of people from the area already travelling to its other two sites.

The gym, which opens at the end of the month, takes up most of the top floor of the former Westgate department store between the bus station and Swadford Street.

It also includes its own Gorillaz Cafe.

The site remained empty for several weeks following the departure last year of Beales and after both the Co-op and the Post Office pulled out.

But it is now thriving once again, with Handpicked Hall and Boyes stores on the ground floor. Fultons Foods opened a month ago and owners, Leeds-based Chapel Allerton Investments are in advanced talks with a major company for one of the two last remaining units.

Margaret Duckworth, from Intershape Fitness, said they hoped to bring to Skipton a straight forward, no-nonsense gym with all the latest equipment, a range of classes and on site injury and rehabilitation clinic and nutrition advice.

Unlike other gyms, it does not tie people into long contracts, and offers day or week long “pay as you train” passes.

It is also offering a special opening deal of £12.99 per month for anyone signing up before the end of September.

“We have worked very hard at driving down the cost of training for people to bring everyone Skipton’s very first budget gym because we believe health and fitness should be affordable for everyone,” she said.

The gym, which is due to open on Monday, September 30, will be open Monday to Friday from 6am to 9.30pm and at the weekends from 8am to 4pm.

To find out more about the gym, drop in, or go online at intershapefitness-skipton.co.uk.