NEW daytime free fitness clubs are being launched in Harwich and Jaywick after funding was granted to help residents get active.

Harwich Free FitClub has free classes in Dovercourt and Brightlingsea with other classes at low cost in Manningtree and Frinton due to hall hire fees.

But Bridie Stanford, who set up the club with her husband Gary in 2016, is set to extend to extra classes.

She said: “We’ve been given a small pot of money from Essex County Council to set up a new daytime fitness class, which will be free, as well as one in Jaywick. Then it could expand into different areas.

“Being free opens the classes to so many people. It’s a great opportunity to help people. Some people come along for the social side and some people find it helps with mental health, like overcoming anxiety.

“When people see something for free, they will go.”

Bridie said the aim is to encourage and give all residents the opportunity to access classes to help improve their fitness and promote a healthy lifestyle.

The club is running a January body challenge with a cash prize to help get the public moving.

Run across all it’s classes, the eight-week challenge from January 23 is £20 to enter with £15 of that going into a prize kitty and the rest to cover costs. The aim is to give people an incentive to get fit.

For more information find Harwich Free FitClub on Facebook.