A state-of-the-art gym has opened in a large unit at an out-of-town shopping centre.

JD Gyms has started welcoming members to its new branch at the former Toys R Us store at Horsted Retail Park, near Chatham.

Ahead of the launch, JD has offered a raft of membership deals.

Under the mantra, Fitness Just Got Serious, gym users were invited to register online today for just £5 with no contract or joining fee.

Then after the first month it’s £24.99.

The 24-hour discount fitness centre, which is next to Home Bargains, officially opened today (December 12),

It boasts a 250-machine cardio and strength studio, boot caps and burn sessions, boxing and dedicated glute areas, personal trainers and luxury changing rooms with saunas.

Free car parking is also available at the Maidstone Road site which is also home to an Aldi supermarket and a KFC drive-thru.

A swim training school founded by a trio of Olympians is also due to launch on the site and will be the first of its kind in Kent.

Swim! has confirmed it will be sharing the unit with its partner company JD Gyms.

Champion swimmers Becky Adlington, Steve Parry and Adrian Turner are behind the Lancashire-based group which specialises in teaching children between the ages of newborn and 11 how to swim and gain confidence in the water.

Initial plans had included a full-sized pool, but this was dropped as developers went back to the drawing board.

The neighbouring sports centre at the Holiday Inn has a pool.

Last year, JD Gyms opened its first branch in Kent at Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre.