A Somerset entrepreneur has secured a £200,000 funding solution to triple the size of his gym chain.

The funding supports the Yeovil launch of Craig Stephens' Trident Fitness brand and enhances the membership base from 1,300 to 1,500.

Reward Finance Group is backing Stephens, who first opened his gym in Bridgewater in 2019, and doubled its size during the pandemic.

Following Bridgewater's success, he launched a second gym, earlier this year, in Weston-super-Mare, converting a Mothercare store into a fitness centre.

The addition of a Yeovil location is set to expand his ten-employee strong operation.

David Owen, Reward’s business development director for Wales and the South West, said: "Craig is obviously a very successful and respected entrepreneur in the region and has a proven track record of opening and running gyms."

Mr Stephens, owner of Trident Fitness (SW) Ltd, said: "To treble the size of the Trident chain by opening our third gym in less than five years is a fantastic achievement and down to our vision for the business and the hard work of the talented team we have in place."

He is now considering plans to open a fourth gym, highlighting the strength of Trident Fitness in the marketplace.