A gym owner says she will not close down her business during the upcoming lockdown despite the government's rules.
Jayne Deakin, who runs Fitness For Life in Bury, Greater Manchester, says she will not be turning away clients who want to work out at the venue after Thursday's national restrictions come into place.
The 50-year-old, who has spent the last 25 years working in the fitness industry, believes taking away the opportunity to exercise will do too much harm to the mental and physical health of the people who visit the centre.
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Gyms and other services not deemed vital to the public have been forced to close as England enters into a second major lockdown. Anyone ignoring the rules will be liable to be fined.
But Jayne says her decision is not about money and that she will pay whatever fines she is issued. She explained: "If they fine me then I will have to take the fine.
"I have to take a stand, I'm a small business and it's just me - I don't make a lot of profit, I can't keep taking fines forever but I have to stand my ground.
"Some of the people who come to my classes might not see any other people that week. This is a huge issue for both their mental and physical health.
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"It's going back to Parliament on Wednesday so we're hoping it will be voted against."
The gym has been open for more than three months, since the easing of regulations in Bury after the last national lockdown, but Jayne says she has been told of no cases linked to the centre during that time.
Like many business owners she has had to introduce extra measures to keep people safe, including enforcing social distancing during classes.
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She explained that she feels she has weighed the risks and that many of the gym's members would be in a much worse position if it is closed.
"I'm not ignorant, I'm not saying there isn't a virus, I know that," she added. "But, if you're fit and well and healthy you will fight it.
"I know a lot of people who have had it and some of them have got through it easily but people who are overweight and unfit haven't. If you can keep people fit and healthy then you're helping to ease the burden on the NHS.
"Believe me, I'm not doing this lightly, I have an at-risk daughter who has Down's Syndrome. I know the risk but I have members who struggle with anxiety and depression - this is a huge mental health issue."
One such member is 77-year-old Wyn Duckworth who says focusing on her fitness has been the only thing that has brought her through a very difficult last three years.
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She explained: "Three years ago my husband of 50 years died and going to the gym
saved me, it gave me something to focus on.
"In that time I've had a stroke, a total hip replacement, suffered from cancer and had two broken wrists. The gym has been a lifeline for me, I have had a really bad few years and the only thing that's kept me going is going to the gym.
"It gives me strength, not just physical strength and feeling stronger but mental strength too. It's give me something to concentrate on. Jayne's excellent at helping me understand that I can actually do the things I don't think I can do."
Bury councillor Andrea Simpson said she 'sympathised' with Jayne's plight but urged business owners not to break the law during the upcoming lockdown.
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She said: "I cannot advocate that she breaks the law. My view is that the government should give evidence as to why this is being done but we cannot say that people should be breaking the law.
"I really sympathise with her and I understand but with this being a national lockdown we have to follow the rules. I know that gyms can be really important to people's mental health
and I understand what she's saying."
Topics: Coronavirus, Community, UK