Two men wanted to help get kids off the streets and involved in sport and they have done it by opening a free gym.

Shahid Shabbir and Dr Salim Nazir opened the Bodies in Motion gym based on Colne Road, Brierfield in January.

The gym now has more than 100 members many of them youngsters who used to hang around on the streets of Brierfield.

The main aim from the very beginning was to get youngsters off the streets and help them channel their energies through sport. Said Shahid

The gym was set up with help from Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and the Pendle Community Network. Most of the money went on equipment and until this month the gym was run by volunteers.

More importantly it is free for all members of the community benefiting all the youngsters in the area.

Shahid added, "We used to work out regularly ourselves and started talking to local youngsters about how they could get involved in sport.

"Many wanted to take part but didnt have any local facilities.

"So with this in mind we set about getting the money and the premises. It has been difficult but there has been a definite change to the number of kids just hanging around doing nothing in the evenings.

"Many of them are really happy to have something to do now rather than just spend the time standing around on the streets."

The gym is open between 6pm and 9pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.