A popular charity-run gym was celebrating this week after an 11th-hour deal was struck to secure its future.

The Armoury, which has more than 2,000 members, was rescued from the brink of closure after the Royal Free Charity stepped in to buy the building from Camden Council last month.

The gym, in Pond Street, Hampstead, which is run by the Jubilee Hall Trust (JHT) charity, was under threat because the council wanted to sell off the site to raise £1.5million.

The Royal Free has now agreed to buy the freehold from the council and allow the JHT to continue managing the gym under a new lease.

The Jubilee Hall Trust’s chief executive Phil Rumbelow joined Chris Burghes, the Royal Free Charity chief executive, and members of staff to celebrate their partnership on Monday.

Mr Rumbelow said: “This is a really good partnership for us because they have got the same aims as us – to make local people more healthy. Nothing changes for us, there’s a new landlord but nothing else. It’s a fantastic result and everybody wins.”