ENTREPRENEUR and TV Dragon Duncan Bannatyne’s North East health clubs are starting the new year with a new look.

The Darlington-based Scot’s group of businesses, which also include hotels, nursing homes and day centres, has invested £575,000 in the Bannatyne Fitness centres in Coulby Newham, Darlington and Chester-le-Street.

New hi-tech equipment includes Technogym cardio machines, which feature LCD entertainment systems so users can listen to the radio or watch digital TV, while splitting the screen to monitor their workouts.

Bannatyne Fitness regional manager Colin MacGillivray said: “As a company Bannatyne’s believes in regenerating and investing its profits back into its facilities to enable our members to receive the maximum benefit from their experience at our health clubs. This latest investment is part of an ongoing programme of development within our existing portfolio of health clubs. The specialist equipment perfectly compliments the wide range of exercise, wellbeing and relaxation facilities we offer at Bannatyne’s.”

The group is the biggest independent health club operator, with 61 sites, around 170,000 members and 5,000 staff.

Bannatyne opened his first gym on Teesside in 1997 when he needed regular exercise to recuperate from a skiing accident.