THE owner of one of Bolton's most popular gyms is looking to relive the glory days.

It started life in a workshop above a funeral directors, but at its height MKM Health Club had 10,000 members on its books.

The club closed its doors back in 2000 but former owner Mike Naughton regularly encounters people who remember it well.

Happy memories have now inspired the 53-year-old to organise a reunion for the club's members on October 3.

He said: "It was electric and people loved it. I go into town now and people are still talking about.

"Even though it was years ago there's still a buzz about it.

"To everybody it was a big family, which is why we have to do this reunion."

Mr Naughton, who now lives in Halliwell Road, started bodybuilding at the age of 14 at home — before his father lent him space to workout in a workshop above a funeral parlour in Vernon Street, Brownlow Fold.

With the help of friends Michael Hilton and Kevin Anderson, the workshop was adapted into the gym MKM, named using their initials.

They built most of the equipment themselves and Mr Naughton was just 19-years-old when it was opened.

It was popular with local teenagers, who only had to pay a small charge to use the equipment, and, off the back of its popularity, Mr Naughton decided to expand on the success.

By the age of 21 he decided to move the club into bigger premises — choosing to relocate to a space more 6,000 square feet big in the former Mossfield Mill also in Vernon Street.

His friends stepped out of the venture, but MKM went from strength to strength.

Mr Naughton said: "When we were at Mossfield we were doing it all, there was even a ladies' gym.

"There was this fantastic nostalgic feeling going on."

However, things came to an end in 1991 when a decision was made to demolish the mill and the tenants were pushed out.

Mr Naughton went without a business for 18 months but then a space opened in Tannery House in Hilton Street.

There was a struggle to bring the gym up-to-date, but former gym members rallied to Mr Naughton's aid.

He said: "They paid for their 12-month membership before it even opened because they believed in me and trusted me. That really choked me up."

The gamble paid off and between 1993 and 2000 MKM Health Club flourished with up to 10,000 members.

At the turn of the millennium Mr Naughton was struggling to make the business viable and it eventually closed.

He now runs a new business — Cash in a Flash — in Halliwell Road but holds fond memories of MKM heydays.

The plans for a reunion have already received big support on Mr Naughton's Facebook page and he is keen to contact as many former gym members as possible.

Anyone interested in getting in contact about the reunion can contact Mr Naughton on 07759 930049.