AN Ex-Gladiator has muscled in on the fitness scene by opening a new gym in Bolton.

Muscle-bound Mike Ahearne, focus of thousands of bedroom posters during his time as Warrior on ITV's hit show Gladiators, has launched Fitness 2000 in Western Street, Great Lever.

With his business partner, former world heavyweight kick boxing champion, Gary Sandland, the ex-TV star aims to use his name and financial might to turn the fortunes of the gym around.

The pair have poured more than £100,000 into the venture since buying up Fitness 2000's predecessor Pro-Fitness in February.

Mr Ahearne, who was convicted of corruption and perverting the course of justice in a high-profile court case and jailed for 18 months, of which he served six, said: "There are two reasons I think this will work -- my name and our prices.

"I want this to be a gym where people will want to come back.

"I have a laugh with the customers and when they go away they're saying: 'I really enjoyed myself there, that Mike is a really nice bloke'."

Mr Ahearne revealed his Gladiator days are not quite behind him yet.

Four weeks ago, he was invited to star in a South African one-off championship special but had to refuse because he had his appendix removed.

He hopes to take up the station bosses second offer to allow him to appear in a proposed South African series.

The gym was snapped up by the two business partners after Mr Ahearne, who was working for a nutritional company at the time, heard the fitness centre was up for sale.

The deal was wrapped up the same day.

It will be the pairs' second gym -- they currently have one in Birkenhead, on the Wirral -- and it is being flagged by Mr Ahearne as "not a back-street gym, not a large one either, but something in between."

He added: "I'm going to train there myself and that way I can advise other people.

"Most gyms are just full of white equipment with black seats and music in the background.

"My gym will be a bit different and have a personal touch."

He said he planned to open a further four or five over the next few years in the North-west.