PureGym is offering both members and non-members an afternoon of free fitness across both their East Lancashire sites.

Hoping to inspire everyone to get active in the lead-up to Christmas, the chain is opening all 600 gyms across the UK for an afternoon, free of charge.

The gyms in Blackburn town centre and Colne's Swindon Retail Park will be open to everyone from 2pm to 8pm on Thursday, September 26.

Visitors will be able to participate in fitness challenges and games, meet and greets with personal trainers, including lessons on how to properly use the kit, and taster classes including strength, cardio and cycle.

A raffle will allow visitors to win free personal trainer sessions among other giveaways.

Stephen Rowe, group marketing officer at PureGym said: “We want to make fitness as accessible as possible and for everyone to feel welcome at PureGym, which is why we’re so excited to host our largest ever Fitness Social.

“By opening up more than 600 PureGyms across the UK, Denmark, and Switzerland, we’re hoping to inspire everyone from first timers to fitness enthusiasts to come down to their local PureGym for an afternoon to get active together.”

It allows participants to test out PureGym’s fitness offerings before joining as a member.

The company is also offering all students a 30 per cent discount in a bid to make it accessible for people starting at Blackburn College or based at UCLan's Burnley Campus.

More than 400,000 gym-goers are expected to go through the doors during the Fitness Social events across Europe.

The majority of PureGym’s clubs operate 24/7, with some gyms operating with reduced opening hours. Specific opening hours can be accessed on the PureGym website.

Their rapid expansion led to the leisure company opening 54 new gyms earlier this year, including 40 new gyms across the UK.