The gym industry is worth more than �1.6bn

Disabled children's charity Whizz-Kidz found only two out of eight leisure groups had access in all their gyms.

The private gym industry has boomed in recent years and is now worth more than �1.6bn a year.

The Disability Rights Commission warned the gym companies were at risk of breaking disability discrimination laws.

Since October 1 last year, anyone providing goods or services to the public has had a legal duty to ensure that disabled people can access their premises, or that an acceptable alternative service is made available.

Finding a fully accessible gym that is user friendly has always been difficult Tushar Patel, wheelchair athlete

The charity said the survey had also demonstrated some chains had out-dated attitudes.

One gym said the flight of stairs outside their premises should not pose a problem as the "strong boys" at the gym would be able to carry a wheelchair user up them.

And a website survey found 92% of the 316 respondents - both disabled and non-disabled - said gyms should be fully accessible.

A quarter of the disabled people surveyed were gym users.

The worst rate of access among the eight leisure companies was 25%.

The two groups that did have full access were Greens and Holmes Place.

Whizz-Kidz chief executive Ruth Owen, who is a wheelchair user, said the lack of access was "shocking".

'Difficult'

In her local area only one out of the three local gyms had full accessibility, including suitable cardiovascular equipment and personal trainers, she added.

Wheelchair athlete Tushar Patel, who uses a gym three times a week, said leisure companies needed to consider factors such as access to the facilities, space between machines.

"Finding a fully accessible gym that is user friendly has always been difficult."

A spokeswoman for the Disability Rights Commission said the leisure groups were risking being taken to court and fined.

"We would urge people to come forward and tell us if they find places are not providing access for disabled people.

"This legislation really depends on people complaining."

The Fitness Industry Association, the trade body for the health and fitness sector, was unavailable for comment.