GYMS across Wirral and Merseyside can reopen following talks with local council leaders and Government on its Tier 3 lockdown restrictions.

The news was confirmed by Steve Rotheram - Metro Mayor of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority - which includes Wirral - in a statement this morning. 

Indoor gyms and fitness/dance studios, sports facilities, leisure centres across Liverpool City Region - which includes Wirral - were told they had to close last Wednesday as part of the new measures, which aimed to tackle the spread of coronavirus after a sharp rise in cases.

But a collective of fitness businesses across the borough - including EmpoweredFit Gym near Arrowe Park and Body Tech Fitness in Moreton - remained open.

Lancashire also entered Tier Three lockdown restrictions on Saturday, but despite rules clearly laid out that state that in Tier Three, indoor fitness centres such as gyms and dance studios must close, Lancashire's gyms can remain open.

This prompted an angry response from the six council leaders on Liverpool City Region Combined Authority who had written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson demanding an 'immediate review' of gym and leisure centre closures as part of the Tier 3 lockdown.

They have now been told that the Tier 3 restrictions will be standardised, meaning that gyms and leisure centres can reopen.

It is undersood the changes will come in from 00:01 on Friday.

Soft play areas will have to remain closed.

In a statement this morning, Mr Rotheram said: "On behalf of the Leaders and MPs across our City Region – I entered into further talks with 10 Downing Street last night to highlight the inconsistencies of the measures that we had been placed under – following the Government's decision to impose Tier 3 restrictions in our area.

"Collectively, we have consistently requested the scientific evidence that supported the imposition of the suite of measures under tier 3 – and we have pointed out the inconsistencies of approach following the announcement that Lancashire would not have exactly the same package of restrictions as our City Region.

"Talks continued till late last night - and the Government have agreed with the case that I put forward - that they would now bring us in line with other Tier 3 area – so that (like Lancashire and Greater Manchester) – soft play areas would be closed – but that gyms could reopen.

"I argued that gyms in the Liverpool City Region were no less safe than those in Lancashire - that had been allowed to remain open.

"I also convinced them that - as we now had local Test and Tracing (and had been chosen as a pilot area to trial new Test Technologies) - we could manage the safety of gym users as well as anywhere in the country.

"The Government will now include the provision to rescind their original decision - when they lay the legislation before Parliament tomorrow - on the orders for Greater Manchester."