Charges will not be imposed on fitness trainers who bring their clients to parks in Watford, the mayor said today.

Hammersmith and Chelsea Council has introduced an annual £350 fee for personal trainers who wish to use its open spaces as a place to run exercise sessions.

But Mayor Dorothy Thornhill said Watford Borough Council “would not go down that route”.

“Parks are there for anybody and everybody. That’s how they should be,” she told the Watford Observer.

“They remain the great free facility. That’s why we decided we wouldn’t charge for the paddling pools, even though that was a serious proposal on the budget.

“They’re there for everybody to enjoy. If some entrepreneur wants to put a client through their paces, then good luck to them.”