A GYM chain has stated it is opening up a new 24-hour facility in Crewe.

PureGym previously earmarked the vacant premises of the one-time MFA Lakeside Bowl at Crewe's Phoenix Leisure Park last summer as part of expansion plans.

The gym company's agents applied to Cheshire East Council for a variation of conditions of the opening hours at the leisure park so it could use the empty unit around the clock.

The park's planning conditions prohibited tenants operating between the hours of 1am and 9am.

According to the borough council's planning portal that application has yet to be decided.

But PureGym has now included Crewe among its portfolio of gyms, although it is not revealing its location.

Its corporate site describes the Crewe facility as "coming soon".

The plans previously applied for involved using a mezzanine on the first floor as a base for the gym and creating a new entrance at the leisure park site.

The facilities were said to include a free weights area, studio and spin areas as well as changing facilities and showers.

The nearest PureGym is at Etruria in Stoke.

The scheme was not without objectors, including Crewe Town Council which has stated residents in neighbouring Tollitt Street, Betley Street and Dorfold Street will be disturbed by the 24-hour operations.

Residents of the railway cottages also raised their concerns. One occupier in Tollitt Street told the borough council: "Since construction of the Phoenix leisure centre we have already been subject to anti-social behaviour and vandalism to our property.

"This will only be made worse by the introduction of further development."

Another, in Dorfold Street, branded the application "completely unreasonable" because of the "continuous loud noise of the air conditioning"

"This type activity is totally unacceptable to the Grade II listed properties which have sat long alongside this piece of land. The disruption on people's quality of peace while they sleep would be hugely impacted," stated the resident.

PureGym says it plans to make a statement about the plans in the coming weeks.

A Cheshire East Council spokesperson said of the previous planning application: "There are outstanding legal matters to be dealt with."