A POPULAR Birkenhead gym for middle-aged and elderly women has closed down suddenly - leaving hundreds of its members out of pocket.

Motorcise shut the doors to its premises in Grange Road West last Monday after its parent franchise company went into administration.

Many members who have contacted the Globe had only paid advance yearly fees of up to £350 in the weeks before the unexpected closure.

Director Doug Johnson had claimed the 44-branch chain was being bought out by a rival firm, Fitness For Women, which is part of the Energie Group.

But the Globe can reveal that Mr Johnson was in negotiation with the Energie Group for three months - and that the business was trading insolvently while still accepting money from members like Adele Balmer, 88, from Prenton, who stands to lose £130.

She is just one of an estimated 400 members who will now have to approach Motorcise's Manchester-based administrators Begbies Traynor for compensation.

"I'm absolutely devastated," she said. "Motorcise has helped keep me to stay fit and supple, but it wasn't just a place for getting exercise - it was a place for meeting friends and making friends, too.

"It was an absolute lifeline for me."

The Birkenhead branch is one of 11 Motorcise branches not included in the Energie Group deal. Energie already operates a Fitness For Women gym in Heswall.

Branch manager Pat Carroll, who worked for the company for seven years, said: "Our wages had not been paid in the bank on April 14 so I phoned Doug and he told me we were getting taken over, but only 80 percent of the centres were included and that Birkenhead wasn't on the template.

"He told me to phone the centre and tell the girls to put a notice on the door that due to unforsdeen circumstances this centre is closed' which I did.

"The more I thought about it, I knew it wasn't right.

"Since the phone call from Doug on April 14 I have left messages on his answer phone asking him to let me know what is going on. He has not answered and the two regional managers aren't answering their phones, either.

"I have not been paid since March 13 and have no information about what is going to happen.

"The sad thing is that this is not just a gym to my members. It is a lifeline, they have made good friends, and helped one another through difficult times.

"I am very disappointed at the way myself and my staff and my members have been treated.

"We have all been loyal to Motorcise - it's a pity I can't say the same about Doug and his regional managers."

The Globe has made repeated attempts via telephone calls and emails to contact Doug Johnson, who lives in a plush home at 5, East House, Hurley, North Warwickshire. So far he has refused to acknowledge any of his messages.

Last week he claimed banks would honour any fees paid by members of their memberships would be transferred to other branches. The administrators will not confirm that.

A spokesman for Energie Group said: "We understand that Motorcise or its advisors have made the decision to close a number of Motorcise Healthy Living Centre's.

"Energie Fitness for Women did not acquire the companies previously trading, but was able to purchase some of the Motorcise Healthy Living Centres on Friday, April 18.

"The centres purchased by Energie Fitness for Women are open and trading normally with positive plans for future development for their members.

"Members and any other interested parties of the closed Motorcise Healthy Living Centre should contact the appointed administrator of these centres on 01618371752 "Energie does not and never has had any connection with these closed Motorcise Healthy Living Centre's and cannot accept any liability for membership monies paid"