BHLive Fitness is introducing charges for members who book classes at their fitness centres then fail to show up.

Members have voiced their frustration after being unable to book on to classes which turn out to be half empty.

Now all members have been notified of changes to the booking system being introduced in the New Year.

After a trial period in January, "No show and late cancellation" charges will be introduced in February.

They will be the equivalent of a non-member charge for a class, which is £6.90.

BHLive operates the Littledown Centre, Pelhams , Queens Park, Stokewood and the Sir David English centre in Bournemouth as well as a venue in Corfe Mullen.

Among the most popular classes are Spinning, Yoga, Body Balance and Insanity.

In a notification to members, BHLive said: "Our monitoring teams have identified that a number of customers use the booking service as a reservation service rather than a booking service, holding multiple spaces preventing others from booking and attending classes."

It adds: "Customers recording three no-shows or late cancellations over a rolling 60-day period will automatically receive a charge the equivalent to the non-member class cost

From Monday January 6 customers will receive an email notifying them of a no show or late cancellation.

Classes must now be cancelled two hours before they are due to start, or one hour if they are before 9am. Tickets for all classes must be collected and handed to instructors before classes start.

Charges will be introduced from Tuesday February 4 and must be paid online or in one of the centres within five days.