BOLTON’S Motorcise ladies-only exercise club franchise has been bought by the woman who managed it for five years.

Anne Wood has used her life savings and borrowed money to buy the franchise from Energie Fitness for Ladies to continue running the business as it was before.

The club offers exercise for women aged over 40 on tailor-made fitness machines that gently exercise all parts of the body.

The club has some members in their late 80s and for many it is a social lifeline. Mrs Wood’s “takeover” is something she does not regret, despite the economic downturn. She said: “I absolutely love running the Motorcise club as the ladies who come here are my friends as well.”

Now she has control she is canvassing opinion on whether to admit men to the sessions, either separately or as a mixed group.

“The women I have talked to here have not been against the idea as many have husbands who have wanted something similar for a long time,” she said.

So, depending on what members say, Mrs Wood proposes that the bar on men be lifted in the new year. The club currently has 600 members who each pay a £360 annual membership fee, but Mrs Wood is resigned to the fact that she will not make any money for at least two years.

She said: “I have agreed to honour the membership and some ladies won’t be due to renew until September next year.

“But I worked hard for the previous owners and I will work hard for myself. I love working here and the ladies are all my friends and for many of them it is a bit of a social club.

“I am a ‘people person’ and I could never work in an office all day. I have always been into exercise, eating healthily and staying fit.”

Under the terms of the franchise, Mrs Wood can get advice and help for any problem she may encounter.

She has currently asked for help in obtaining a machine which takes credit and debit cards, but because she is classed as a new business the banks have so far proved unhelpful.

Mrs Wood said: “One bank wanted me to open an account and leave £30,000 in it for a year before I could have a machine. I just don’t have that kind of money to leave around.”