A former gym in Lancashire will be swapping warm-ups for worship, as a planning application has been submitted to renovate it into an evangelical church.

An application to transform the former ladies’ fitness centre at 75 Bank Top was submitted by Colin McLaren, who wrote:

“We are planning to open a Potter's House Church in Blackburn. The site proposed above will need no structural or layout changes only a change of use to a place of worship.”

The Potter's House churches have 15 locations in the UK. They describe themselves as “relaxed” and “down to earth”, founded in America in 1987 by “former hippie converts to the Jesus Movement” Paul and Renee Stephens.

Its first UK branch opened in Elephant and Castle.

The church states: “During the past decades, PHC has witnessed God do amazing things. In the developing stages of the ministry, a wave of youth joined the church.

“Many of them came from single-parent homes where the realities of gangs, teen pregnancy, drugs, and other social challenges were always looming. As they embraced a clear message to be serious-minded followers of Christ, other areas of their lives flourished as well.”