MEMBERS of a North-East gym have been feeling the strain to raise money for charity.

Men and women who work out at the 2B-Fit Gym in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, lifted over 1.5 million kilograms on Saturday to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

They arrived the Stella Gill Industrial Estate facility at 8am and lifted weights on barbells throughout the day.

It was the idea of Stephen Brewis and his business partner, Ian Bickle, who own the gym.

A mixture of men and women from 16 years old to their 60s took part.

Mr Brewis, 29, from Chester-le-Street, said: “Sadly, it is a cause that affects everyone so everyone had their own reasons for getting involved.

“We only aimed to lift a total of a million kilograms, so we absolutely smashed it. It went really, really well.

“We have not counted up how much we have raised yet, but it looks like quite a bit.

“Last time we did a charity challenge we managed to raise around £2,000, so we hope it will be there or thereabouts this time, if not a little but more.”