Watch: Suspected gym arson sees community respond

A gym which was forced to close following a suspected arson attack has reopened thanks to more than 150 volunteers who came together to help rebuild it.

The Atrium Health Club in Reading suffered the fire in the early hours of 30 January.

The independent gym, which serves more than 1,000 members, reopened to members on 21 February following an "intensive recovery effort" led by staff, members and local supporters.

Thames Valley Police said its enquiries are continuing into the incident, which it is investigating as arson, however no arrests have been made.

Director Josh Baines said the early days following the fire were filled with uncertainty.

"On the way to the gym that morning we genuinely thought the whole building might be up in flames and that it could be the end of the business," he said.

"As an independent company with our own finances tied up in the gym, that was terrifying."

As soon as the gym asked for help repainting the space, the local community responded and over a single weekend, more than 150 volunteers arrived to help repaint and restore it.

Among the stories from the rebuild effort was a three-year-old donating 50p from his pocket money, members bringing food for staff working long hours, professional painters volunteering their labour, and families arriving together to help clean and paint the space.

"Seeing 150 people queue up to help repaint the gym was unbelievable.

"That was one of the most joyful and memorable moments we've ever experienced," said Baines.

Baines said the experience confirmed how important the gym had become within the local community.

"When we first built the gym it took four months.

"After the fire we rebuilt it in three weeks.

"One of our goals from the beginning was to create a place people would miss if it wasn't here. During those weeks we realised how true that really was."

Thames Valley Police said no one sustained any injuries in the incident.

The force is appealing for anyone with information about the two people in the CCTV footage to come forward.