The number of gyms in the UK has increased by 10% over the past year, as operators take advantage of lower rents.

Landlords keen to avoid empty properties are increasingly letting retail units to gym chains, with the total number of gyms jumping from 4,000 to 4,400, and leisure centres rising from 1,100 to 1,220 over the same period.

Other leisure businesses that have grown include war games venues such as paintball and Laser Quest, which are up 6% to 380. The number of 10-pin bowling centres has risen from 220 to 230 and cinemas are up from 610 to 620.

The figures come from an analysis of data from HM Revenue & Customs by commercial law firm EMW.

Venues catering to older customers have done less well, however, with the number of bingo halls continuing to decline, falling from 370 to 360 and snooker clubs down from 720 to 700.

Nightclubs have also continued their decline falling from 1,330 to 1,300, while the number of casinos fell from 140 to 130.