GYMS will have a different look as they open on Saturday for the first time in four months.

Halo Leisure, which operates centres in Hereford and surrounding market towns, has introduced new layouts in gyms, as well as a raft a new measures to prepare for reopening.

The gym at Hereford Leisure Centre in Holmer Road has been expanded into the sports hall to ensure social distancing can be adhered to.

More equipment has been taken to the site, which closed on March 21 due to the coronavirus pandemic, from Hereford Leisure Pool.

The site in St Martin’s Avenue is not expected to reopen until early 2021 due to flood damage caused in February.

A one-way system will also be in place, as well as cashless entry with online bookings and more rigorous cleaning regimes.

Halo Leisure’s regional manager for Herefordshire Alex Haines, who has worked at the site in Holmer Road since 1988, said: “Customer confidence is key to our success going forward.

“We will have far more sanitising stations around the building, also we’ll be encouraging customers to clean equipment before they go on as well as after.

“We also have extra staff in place to keep on top of the cleaning. Cleaning is the high priority.”

Mr Haines added: “From day one of the lockdown we froze every membership that we had.

“Our promise was nobody would lose out. What we’re trying to do now is reactive and re-engage with our members to come back in. Most of our group exercise classes are booking up very quickly, which is reassuring, and we’re getting people used to booking online to come and use the gym because that’s the new bit.”

Although the gyms and exercise classes in Hereford, Ledbury, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye will reopen on Saturday (July 25), centres in Bromyard, Kington and Wigmore will remain closed until further notice.

Swimming pools will be able to reopen from August 15 under current Government plans.