A gym in Middleton has announced that it has been forced to hike its prices following a double whammy of cost increases and years of "struggling" since a competitor opened nearby.

Manchester Muscle Academy, situated on Hanson Street, has stood as a staple in the Middleton community for 10 years - and now it needs "help and support" from loyal gym-goers.

The gym revealed it has struggled to keep its doors open for years after a "big corporate gym" opened just around the corner.

The post read: "We know here at MMA we can never compete with the big corporate gyms with their equipment and facilities.

"However, they can never compete with our community togetherness and spirit and friendly atmosphere."

As a non-profit business, it said every pound it makes goes straight back into the ongoing running of the gym but now it has been forced to hike prices amid the cost-of-living crisis.

The post added: "Everything has increased in price.

"Our rent, rates, insurance, music license and bank charges have all increased quite a lot every year and we now find ourselves in somewhat financial difficulty.

"We pride ourselves on keeping the costs of using our gym to a very minimum, so it is affordable and accessible to everyone, and we have been supporting the business from personal finances in order to keep our prices low and affordable for a few years now, but we can no longer sustain this."

MMA said it is now with "great sadness" that it is having to add a small increase to its membership costs and the supplements it sells.

The gym also said the hike may be difficult for some of its customers but urged them to stand by the gym as it may offer an increase in stages over the next few months if that is preferred.

The new costs, which will begin in March, are as follows:

• £4 per day session cash/card at the desk

• £25 per month cash/card at the desk

• £20 per month standing order

• £100 for 6 moths one off payment

• £200 for 12 months one off payment

"We wish to go for another 10 years and beyond, we have only been able to do this with your ongoing help and support.

"A big thank you from all of us here at Manchester Muscle Academy", the post added.