TEN more health clubs are to be built across the UK next year by millionaire businessman Duncan Bannatyne.

Darlington-based Bannatyne Fitness, the country's largest independent health club operator, has 23 sites open or under development across England, Scotland and Wales and Mr Bannatyne, founder and chairman, said work would begin in the new year on the next tranche of 3,000-member clubs in Crewe, Newport and Dumfries.

The next stage is due to begin later in the year in Wakefield, Eastbourne and at Stepps, near Glasgow. Further sites across the UK have been earmarked for the 2003 developments, subject to contracts being signed.

Mr Bannatyne, who set up the company in 1997 after he sold his care home company, Quality Care Homes, for £46m, said: "We are well on our way to achieving our plan of 40 health clubs by 2005.

"All over the UK we have been attracting new members keen to get fit in an environment suited to the stresses of modern working life and I'm sure our new clubs will prove popular with new members.

"Bannatyne Fitness has seen particular growth in the mid-market of the fitness sector because there are more people with disposable income in that bracket who crave a healthy lifestyle and quality surroundings in which to achieve their goals."

Clydebank-born Mr Bannatyne, also has plans to open a casino in the North-East and another in Scotland.

He set himself the goal of becoming a millionaire after the Royal Navy put him in a military jail at 19, when he was court martialled after throwing his commanding officer overboard for a £10 bet