A NEW Sports Direct store is set to open in the Bradford area - although when it will fling open its doors to customers remains a mystery.

The store will be based in the top floor of the former DW Fitness gym and store in Gelderd Road, Birstall.

The gym, which was taken over by Everlast Fitness in August, features a store on the first floor, which is where Sports Direct will be based.

Sports Direct and Everlast Fitness are part of the Frasers Group empire of businessman Mike Ashley.

Mr Ashley, who also owns House of Fraser, Flannels, Jack Wills, Evans Cycles and Newcastle United Football Club, took over the DW Fitness gym as part of a takeover of the brand in August.

DW Fitness had been owned by Bradford-born businessman Dave Whelan, but went into administration in the summer.

New signage went up at the gym and store in Gelderd Road in recent weeks displaying the new Everlast Fitness and Sports Direct logos.

When Everlast Fitness took over the gym it became the second gym in the franchise in the Bradford area, joining the Everlast site in Keighley.

Once the new store opens it will become the fifth Sports Direct store in the Bradford area, joining two stores in the city centre – one in the Kirkgate Shopping Centre and one at Forster Square Retail Park – the store at Cavendish Retail Park in Keighley, and the shop at Westside Retail Park in Guiseley.

The site features a large single-storey retail space on the first floor, and in the fitness club there was a large workout space with free weights, cardio machines and weights machines, as well as Olympic lifting platforms and a plyometric space.

There are also separate studios for workout classes, group training and spin classes, as well as a swimming pool, hot tubs and steam room.

The Telegraph & Argus has contacted Sports Direct for details about the new store, but Sports Direct did not respond.

Frasers Group bought up the DW Fitness empire for £37 million, which could rise to almost £44m, in August after it went into administration, putting 1,700 jobs at risk.

In the 2018/19 tax year, DW Fitness had losses of £20 million with gross assets of almost £195m.

It had operated more than 70 gyms and 75 stores around the country, but 50 of these had been set to close as part of a wind down of the retail side of the business before it went into administration.

There are currently more than 400 Sports Direct stores across Britain.