BANNATYNE Fitness has revealed details of a major investment North of the border that will see £10m pumped into four Scottish towns.

The Darlington-based company has unveiled plans to launch a new brand of fitness club in Dundee, along with three new health clubs in Dunfermline, Falkirk and Livingston.

The move will create around 150 new jobs and will also see the launch of a new brand of health club, Just Fitness.

It will be aimed at the total fitness market comprising up to 20,000sqft of fitness centre with large gymnasium and aerobics facilities.

The company hopes to follow the Dundee launch with the development of a series of similar centres across the UK.

Duncan Bannatyne, chairman of Bannatyne Fitness told The Northern Echo said the move was part of the company's major expansion prgramme.

"I am very excited about this investment we have made in Scotland," he said.

"The foresight of Scottish planners together with our determination to expand the success of Bannatyne Fitness clubs have made this development programme possible."

The company decided to launch Just Fitness in Scotland following the success of the Bannatyne fitness clubs North of the border. Clubs in Edinburgh and Aberdeen opened recently have already proved popular with members.

Mr Bannatyne added: "Just Fitness is a new market for us, and one which I believe will allow us to cater for the entire spectrum of health club members.

"It is aimed at the total fitness enthusiast and combines the philosophy of old-style gyms with a luxury environment and state of the art equipment."

The clubs in Dunfermline and Falkirk will open in January 2001 with the company's Livingston site opening in May next year.