A FORMER soldier has opened a gym in Bridport, with an emphasis on military-style training.

Having served in the army for 13 years, Rich Harvey - who hails from the town - has shifted his expertise into fitness, opening The Hurt Locker at Dreadnought Trading Estate.

The Hurt Locker, which opened for the first time on Sunday, May 9, is described by its owner as a 'military fit style mixed with combat and functional training along with the best kit and equipment on the market'.

Rich returned to Bridport after leaving the army last February - just a month before the pandemic hit.

During the lockdown he began to think about what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.

Rich said: "I left the army and the pandemic started immediately after. I was just thinking what can I do? I wanted to work on something so I studied and achieved a Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification.

"I considered being a personal trainer for a few months but I started to wonder if I could find a small unit to run classes out of. I wanted my own little personal gym."

Rich looked across Dorset, eventually discovering that a brand new storage unit had been built at Dreadnought - to replace the unit destroyed in a fire at the estate in July 2019.

He said: "I drove across Dorset looking for the perfect space and eventually found a spot right on my doorstep.

"I applied for planning permission in September but didn't get the go ahead until March. At that point I didn't have enough time to get everything ready for April 12 when gyms were able to reopen so I bought my equipment over the next two months and set myself up."

He added: "The feedback I've had even in the two days of opening has been phenomenal. Not only does this show a huge positive out from lockdown but great for health and fitness for my local community of course."