A women-only gym has shut its doors for the last time after the business was blighted by crippling bills and road works.

Curves ladies fitness centre at Senacre Square, Maidstone, closed on Thursday in a move described by owner Phillipa Gill as heartbreaking.

She cited the six weeks of disruption caused by last summer’s start of the £1.2 million Willington Street restructuring and hefty repair bills as the main factors that led to the decision.

Mrs Gill said: “It’s a very sad day and a huge loss for me and the local community.”

She added that the recession took its toll and the works at Willington Street meant members left and prospective customers were discouraged from joining.

“I'm heartbroken. It’s a very sad day and a huge loss for me and the local community.” — Phillipa Gill

The mother of four said: “We lost six weeks of new business last summer as people just couldn’t find us or it was too inconvenient to find a way around all the diversions.

“Sadly, we lost our momentum and never recovered.”

An application for compensation was refused as Kent Highways said there was adequate signage for the road works and local firms were informed in good time before they got under way.

Mrs Gill added: “Unlike a lot of businesses in the area, the club relies on people attending multiple times a week.

“Ultimately, a lot of people were turned away by the impact on their day that the diversions would have.

“An empty gym is not appealing for new members.”

The club, which has been serving the area for eight years and raised more than £20,000 for charity, was also hit badly by repair costs of almost £11,000 after landlord Golding Homes carried out drainage works.

The total cost of the drainage works was £250,000, and Mrs Gill said Curves was one of a number of tenants that appealed to Golding Homes about the bill, which was the final straw for the business.