IT’S lift off for fitness fanatic ladies as the area’s first female-only gym is launched.

A hi-tech £80,000 Express Ladies Fitness studio has opened at Greenock’s Waterfront Leisure Centre.

It is designed for women who are new to the gym or who are self-conscious when exercising.

Inverclyde Leisure has invested £80,000 in the facility, transforming a former cafe seating area into a modern fitness centre kitted out with top-of-the-range equipment from leading manufacturer eGym.

The Waterfront is the first facility in Scotland to use the company’s digital technology and one of only four in the UK.

Andrew Hetherington, IL’s operations manager, said: “The development of the Express Ladies Fitness is a great addition.

“This is an area of demand that has been highlighted from both our user and non-user surveys as something they would like to see introduced to Inverclyde Leisure.

“It is also popular within the UK leisure industry.

“There has been a rise in ladies-only fitness across the country.”

Each of the room’s 10 stations are user-friendly and all connected to the internet, meaning women can automatically start tailored exercise programmes at the tap of a wristband.

The set-up is designed for 45-minute instructor-led circuit training sessions for small groups.

Bosses at IL hope it will help women increase their activity levels and achieve their fitness and weight-loss goals in a more fun, friendly and private environment.

Specialist instructors will be on hand offering support, leading classes, carrying out inductions and designing unique programmes.

To celebrate the launch of the gym, IL is offering local ladies a free trial for a month with no joining fee and January is also free.

For more information call the Waterfront on 797979.