Sports Direct will open three in-store gyms this year ahead of launching its own standalone chain.

The gyms will open above new stores in Aintree, St Helens and Keighley by the Autumn and are set to be branded sportsdirectfitness.com, according to the Sunday Express.

It comes as the retailer prepares to open 13 standalone gyms with another seven in the pipeline.

According to the newly launched website, sportsdirectfitness.com, monthly membership will cost £33 a month and many of the gyms will offer yoga, zumba and spin classes alongside traditional weight lifting and treadmill zones.

Sports Direct first signaled it wanted to launch gyms in May when it was eyeing 30 LA Fitness gyms.

It comes after rival JD Sports, opened its first gym in Hull in February.