A WOMEN-ONLY gym in Darlington which went into liquidation is to reopen under the management of two former members of staff.

First Step 2 Fitness will occupy the former Peppermint Park gym in Victoria Road.

Susan Spinks and Karen Kenney, former employees, have spent £80,000 on the venture, which they hope to launch on September 1.

"It is going to cost £20,000 to refurbish the building and we have invested £60,000 in new equipment," said Mrs Spinks.

The gym will have a Cyclex spinning studio, a specialist toning section, a hair and beauty salon and a crche.

Mrs Spinks and Mrs Kenney worked with Darlington Business Venture to resurrect the gym and are using Darlington's Back to Work project to recruit staff.

Lawrence Scott Leisure, former owners of Peppermint Park, went into voluntary liquidation earlier this year and the gym ceased trading on April 29.

Beverley Anderson, of RMT Accounts and Business Advisors, in Newcastle, which is dealing with the liquidation, said many gym-goers had paid their membership by credit card so had been refunded through their insurance.

Mrs Anderson wished the new owners luck.

"They weren't involved as directors or managers and weren't in any way responsible for the financial problems of Lawrence Scott Leisure," she said.