Kidsport has opened a gym for families at its children’s fitness and play centre in Watford.

Branded Activ8, the facility is designed for use by children aged 7 to 14, as well as adults and uses Hoist equipment supplied by Precept.

Children can work out alone in supervised circuit classes or with their families.

Manager Andy Hill said the gym has proved popular with children and has also attracted mums who have never used gyms before.

“In a well-designed programme like ours, children can expect an improvement in bone density, as well as tendon and ligament strength,” he said.

“Skeletal muscular strength, joint stability and endurance are also enhanced. Resistance training enhances nervous system function and promotes emotional health. Children also experience improvements in self-esteem and self-confidence as their ‘feel good’ factor improves.”

The £1.5m Kidsports centre opened in April this year and is headed by Chris Lane, a sports entrepreneur and former teacher who sold his successful family health and leisure club in Woking to fund the development of Kidsports.

He plans to open 100 Kidsports clubs over the next five years.

The concept aims to bring physical activity into the lives of children in a fun way, sayid Lane: “Physical activity provides children with enormous and unique first-hand opportunities to establish key lifestyle values, such as integrity, perseverance, determination, team working and leadership skills.

“In short, it teaches citizenship. It also builds self-confidence and enhances a child’s sense of self-worth.”