Britain's biggest sporting goods retailer Sports Direct has signed a deal to take over a British gym and is in talks to buy more, marking its entrance into the health and fitness industry.

Plans to turn a former Sports Direct Fitness gym in Bury St Edmunds into a builders’ merchant have been approved, but councillors say their hands were tied.

Sports Direct, Britain's biggest sporting goods retailer, is on the hunt for a new central London site to house a superstore, own-brand gym and offices, after making a big profit on the sale of ...