The neck of the academies on the tray in exchange for the open pubs

Many hundreds of gyms and swimming pools will close their doors this winter if new post-blocking restrictions being considered for England force them to stay closed

Further penalising the fitness industry would be a "political choice," Edwards said, as "there was no science" to support the idea that its sites were a source of infection

Huw Edwards, the executive chairman of ukactive, said the government was considering keeping gyms and swimming pools closed as part of an exchange for reopening other parts of the economy, such as pubs and restaurants, in December.

The UK's 7,000 gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres sought to be reclassified as essential public health services. The movement is being debated by parliamentarians on Monday after a petition attracted over 600,000 signatures.