TWO mums who opened up their own fitness academy after being made redundant are on a mission to help women recover from childbirth and banish 'fit-shaming'.

Personal trainers Robyn Ablott, 28, from Latchford, and Claire Gregory, 35, from Great Sankey, opened the Female Fitness Academy in December 2013.

Both were on maternity leave, with their second child, from their full-time jobs at Warrington Collegiate before deciding to embark on the venture.

After becoming aware they would be made redundant, the pair, who currently have two children each, wanted to find a job which would allow them to spend 'as much time as possible' with their loved ones.

Claire said: "We always talked about opening the fitness academy but did not want to take the risk until our hands were forced.

"We thought there was very little around for mums and women with postnatal depression.

"As new mums are such a big target audience for the fitness industry, there is a huge problem with trainers who are unqualified in postnatal fitness.

"Anyone who comes to us would not be blowing full steam – we look at a range of things including body alignment and posture.

"The main aim is to reduce society's pressure placed on new mums and to help them recover from pregnancy and childbirth – both physically and mentally.

"And in a realistic and effective way through our holistic training programme.

"Our 'mummy tummy method' focuses on aiding women's physical and mental recovery from childbirth.

"The body changes over the nine months of pregnancy and that needs changing.

"We try to do it in a short space of time and make it sustainable, so people can continue with it.

"We both work school hours now so get to spend a lot of time with our children."

The pair are also on a mission to combat the 'fit-shaming' taking place against new mums.

"It is becoming acceptable to shame women who exercise," added Claire.

"New mums are seen as an easy target nowadays as the fitness industry knows they are vulnerable and often looking to lose weight.

"Many are judged as being vain and caring more about their body than their baby."

The academy, which allows mums to bring their babies along to sessions, has worked with midwives, GPs, physiotherapists and psychologists since opening in 2013.

Sessions take place at community centres across the north west, including in Warrington, rather than at a fixed site.