AN Exmoor community is facing a David and Goliath-style battle as it attempts to prevent the closure of a popular gym on its doorstep.

Residents in Dulverton have set up an action group and are launching a shot across the bows of not-for-profit leisure trust 1610 Ltd to take on and run the town's Exmoor Gym.

The flagship facility was hailed as the first of its kind when it opened just 18 months ago, with 1610 bosses claiming it was part of an initiative to help communities in rural areas adopt a healthier and fitter lifestyle.

But just a week ago the charitable trust announced the facility will close at the end of April to allow its long-term future to be reviewed.

The news - which local people say was broken to some of the 80-plus members by one of the instructors - sparked an outcry, with the nearest alternative gyms in Minehead or Tiverton, a 20-mile round trip away.

Although in a statement 1610 has described the closure as "temporary", local campaigners fighting to keep the facility fear it is unlikely to reopen.

1610 cites falling gym membership during the summer months as the reason for the closure, claiming it is not economically viable to keep it open.

But Dulverton-based journalist Adrian Tierney-Jones said he knew of local organisations whose request to take out corporate membership had been turned down.

And he said 1610's reasoning that during the summer people would spend their leisure time outdoors rather than in a gym was "a lame excuse".

"The majority of members have direct debits that last through the year," said Mr Tierney-Jones.

"You can't help feeling that the gym has been hung out to dry and that the opening was perhaps a cynical decision on 1610's part to show that they have a stake in the rural community."

Mr Tierney-Jones said he found the gym facilities "priceless" and they were a great resource for Dulverton and surrounding communities.

The Save Exmoor Gym action group was set up after a meeting of gym users, concerned locals, town councillors and church representatives - the gym's base, the old Parish Rooms, is owned by the church. Spokesman Lucy Trenchard said a committed and professional group of local people were willing to take over the reins of running the gym but had been stonewalled by 1610.

"Unfortunately, 1610 seem intent on blocking all the town's best efforts, creating a David and Goliath situation," said Mrs Trenchard.

"They have consistently refused to market the facility or explore other membership possibilities and in general seem curiously resistant to making the gym a financial success."

Save Exmoor Gym insists the facility is viable and could easily be run by the community: "Yet 1610 are digging in their heels," said Mrs Trenchard.

"They have refused to meet with either representatives of our group or the town council.

"The community cannot understand their reaction."

Local health journalist Jane Alexander said the gym's membership ranged in age from 11 to pensioners in their 80s and the 80-plus number of members was only just short of the 100 that 1610 had originally said was needed.

She said many members, like 42-year-old local cancer sufferer Rob Day used it as part of their recovery from illness and travelling further afield was not a viable option.

"His doctors have been amazed at his fitness, which obviously makes him far better able to handle his surgery and chemotherapy.

"The whole family use the gym and have found it a strong emotional support, as well as a physical help at this difficult time."

Ms Alexander added: "It beggars belief that in this Olympic year, a great local fitness and health facility is being closed - particularly when there is no need.

"The gym is highly professional yet also friendly and supportive - it really does act as a mental health resource as well as a physiological one.

"I am appalled by this and it has caused absolute uproar in Dulverton."

The action group, whose members' expertise ranges from legal and financial to marketing, fundraising, health and safety and fitness, wants to run the gym as a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity.

When 1610 opened it, it said it had invested £35,000 of equipment into the new venture, including a wide range of cardio and resistant exercise machines.

No-one from the trust was available to speak to the Free Press but a statement posted on its website said it would be reviewing all aspects of the management of the gym to see what options were available to keep it open.

It said gym members would be informed about the temporary closure in writing and that it was "actively consulting" with local community and church groups which helped set up to gym to establish if there was support for the facility.

"1610 hopes that following the consultation period, a decision about the long-term future of the gym could be made by July 2012," said the statement.

"If there is proven community support for the facility then 1610 believes that the gym could reopen again in September.

"1610 would like to thank all members of the local community in Dulverton who have supported the project so far."

1610, which changed its name from Somerset Leisure in a major rebranding exercise last October, manages a total of 17 leisure centres and facilities across Somerset and Devon, including the West Somerset Sports and Leisure Centre in Minehead.