A FORMER midwife has opened a gym which is unlike others.

Kelly Baker has opened the CrossFit gym on Albion Road in Carlton with fellow crossfit coach Tony Parrott. But instead of featuring all the machines of a typical gym, crossfit is a sport which mixes weightlifting, gymnastics and cardio.

Kelly has always been interested in sports, and has tried gymnastics, snow boarding and swimming. She discovered crossfit in 2013 and became hooked.

She has competed at European competitions and in January competed in the English championships. She decided to give up midwifery because she felt she was working to mask conditions such as obesity and wanted to work towards preventing them.

Kelly, 31, of Thistley Court, Grimethorpe, said: "I'm ecstatic that we are finally open and happy that we have got there. It has been two years in the making and there have been so many obstacles to overcome.

"The thing that got me hooked was the feeling you get after a workout. The motto is be prepared for anything because you never know what you're going to be doing.

"Everyone supports each other no matter how old, fit or unfit, or over or underweight you are, and no one is allowed to put their equipment away until the last person has finished."