Health 'catastrophe' as hundreds of UK gyms and swimming pools face never reopening from lockdown

Boris Johnson has been warned Britain faces a health and wellbeing “catastrophe” as hundreds of swimming pools and gyms face prolonged closure and fear further lockdowns.

Around 200 council-run pools will remain closed into the New Year, especially in the North West, research by Swim England found, while others have been forced to shut for good.

The UK’s 7,000 gyms and leisure facilities have lobbied for the Government to class them as “essential” services vital for public health, pointing to a conflict in the “protect the NHS” slogan ministers have used to justify the November lockdown and subsequent tougher tier system.

But many operators fear a third round of closures in January, when scientists expect a spike in coronavirus cases prompted by the UK-wide five-day reprieve in restrictions at Christmas.