USERS of a specialist gym which catered for over 50s and disabled people have been left out of pocket and confused by its sudden closure.

Members arriving at Exeter's Motorcise centre yesterday were met with a notice informing them that the business had closed and they should direct any inquiries to a firm of insolvency practitioners.

The door of the gym, in Commercial Road, near the Quay, was locked and there was no sign of any staff.

Members claim to have paid in advance for months' worth, or even a year's membership, and now fear they will be left out of pocket.

They say the business was taking money as late as Thursday, and a loyalty scheme had been launched to encourage members to put money towards next year's membership.

Jack and Diane James, of Rowan Way, Exwick, paid £296 around Christmas time for joint membership which was supposed to last until August next year.

Mr James said that late yesterday the notice on the door had been removed, as had all signage.

"The pity is that if this gym has closed there will be nowhere for older people and disabled people to exercise. It had special equipment and was even used by people with wheelchairs," said 84-year-old Mr James.

One woman, who did not want to be named, said she was less out of pocket than some others, but was paid up for another four months: "There is some real anger about this because we were not given any notice and money was being paid by some members just a few days ago."

Members of the gym who were due to meet up yesterday for a workout instead went for a walk together.

Motorcise, owned by Jenny Clarke, has another gym in Torquay and is thought to be opening another branch in Paignton. The Exeter gym had around 700 members and was trading under a separate company to that which ran the Torquay gym.

Only last month the Exeter gym — described by owners as a healthy living centre — celebrated its fifth birthday and last year Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw opened its men's section.

The centre had a range of facilities including machines driven by motors which can accommodate people of any level of fitness. They help increase fitness, joint mobility and muscle strength.

Those with arthritis, back pain or multiple sclerosis were said to benefit from using the machines.

The centre also had treatment rooms used by an in-house beauty therapist, a chiropodist and ultrasound scanners.

Mark Bowen, of MB Insolvency, confirmed it was in talks with Motorcise. A creditors' meeting would be held on Thursday, August 5, when a liquidator would be appointed.

"It is with deep regret that the directors of Exeter Lifestyles Centre Ltd, trading as Motorcise, had to take the decision to cease trading," he said.

"They had put considerable finance and effort into the company and did not want to let down any members because they knew what a valued service they were providing."

Ms Clarke was unavailable for comment.