FIFE Sports and Leisure Trust are staying strong despite competition from PureGym in Dunfermline.

The health club chain came to town in late 2017 and the Carnegie Retail Park site has proved popular since its opening.

The trust, who run Carnegie Leisure Centre, responded by offering a seven-day free trial of their low-cost membership to customers after PureGym arrived in a bid to retain members and attract new faces.

Their efforts are now paying dividends with gym visits up on this time last year and an increase in junior members.

Wendy Watson, chief operating officer at Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, told the Press: "At the time of increased competition from a new private provider in Dunfermline, we offered a seven-day free trial to customers of our low-cost membership, Leisure Active.

"We also increased our marketing efforts to raise awareness of the fantastic facilities available in Dunfermline, including swimming pools and newly-refurbished state-of-the-art gyms.

"Figures show that visits to the gym are up for the same period last year, and, in particular, there has been growth in junior members thanks to the supervised-led sessions by our highly-qualified staff.

"In addition, membership to Leisure Active is up almost 20 per cent compared to last year."

Speaking at the environment, finance and communities scrutiny committee earlier this month, Ms Watson said the trust "did take an impact when PureGym opened in Dunfermline", with the lack of car-parking at Carnegie Leisure Centre one problem facing them.

Another PureGym facility is to open in Kirkcaldy this year and the trust is set to offer a discounted membership to existing Active Leisure silver members there in order to price-match with the private gym provider.