A West Cumbrian fitness coach has transformed her business model in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

BodyFit Cumbria was set up 16 years ago by Sam Ayers, of Eaglesfield.

Sam and her team of trainers held several running classes a week around Cockermouth for all abilities and fitness classes, like core and flexibility sessions, in local halls.

But like many people, Sam found coronavirus putting a stop to her main income stream.

As soon as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said gatherings should cease, leisure facilities should close and people shouldn’t travel to exercise, Sam said she saw the business she built up from scratch dwindle to nothing.

Her business is all about being face-to-face with people, but Sam, who is also a champion rower, said she would not allow coronavirus to win.

Within a week, she launched live classes online.

She said: “We had to come up with a different way of doing things.

“Safety is the number one priority.

“But we’re like a family at BodyFit and I didn’t want to let anyone down either - so I knew we had to continue.

“So we are now doing virtual classes, using the Zoom platform. It’s been a very steep learning curve as the technology is completely new to us, but we ran a couple of test sessions with members before going live and it was really straightforward. I’d encourage other fitness professionals to do the same.

“It means while people are self-isolating, they can still stay fit – all from the comfort of their home.”

Sam and her fellow-trainer Rachel Mellor, of Pardshaw, now livestream classes from their respective living rooms.

Class member Angela Gibbs, 53, of Cockermouth, said: “I had been reluctant to do them as I don’t like exercise DVDs, but this is totally different! It felt like being in class and I felt connected to everyone. That’s worth a lot in these times of isolation.”

Sam is also offering free classes to anyone who have lost their household income due to coronavirus and is donating £1 per paying member to North Lakes Foodbank, to help it with its work.