DW Fitness First is sadly closing its Winsford gym today.

Members described the announcement as 'devastating' and 'a great loss to the town'.

The Winsford Cross Shopping Centre fitness centre is shutting at 8pm this evening, Tuesday.

It follows the collapse of sports retailer and gym group DW Sports which has gone into administration putting 1,700 jobs at risk.

A spokesman for DW Fitness First in Winsford told members on social media last night: "It is with a heavy heart that unfortunately we announce our closure. DW Fitness First Winsford will close our doors tomorrow at 8pm.

"Thank you to all the staff, PTs and freelance instructors that have worked incredibly hard and genuinely loved coming to work.

"And last but not least, thank you to all of our incredible members. It’s been great fun.

"DW Winsford, over and out."

DW Sports, which was founded by former Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan, operated 73 gyms and 75 retail sites across the UK but announced plans to shut 25 of its stores last month.

The company said it will now wind down its retail business for good, with its website ceasing trading with immediate effect and closing down sales starting at its 50 remaining stores.

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Chief executive Martin Long said: “As a consequence of Covid-19, we found ourselves in a position where we were mandated by Government to close down both our retail store portfolio and our gym chain in its entirety for a protracted period, leaving us with a high fixed-cost base and zero income.

“Like many other retail businesses, the consequences of this extremely challenging operating market have created inevitable profitability issues for DW Sports."

DW Sports stressed that Fitness First, which is a sister company of DW, will continue to operate as a separate company and its 43 clubs will be unaffected by the administration.

The administrators intend to support employees, customers and gym members as far as possible while they look to secure a buyer or buyers for some or all of the DW Sports portfolio.