For early morning bootcamps have arrived in Calderdale, and the first one takes place in two days time.

Instead of that extra hour in bed, you could be lumbering up in the fresh air on Savile Park, Halifax, and playing games with other like-minded individuals while those `happy hormones' that exercise is said to induce, kick in.

And if you make the first taster session - at 6.45 on Wednesday, March 19 you'll be doing your bit for charity too. For proceeds from it are going to Sports Relief.

The bootcamps aimed at individuals of all levels of fitness are the brainchild of personal trainer Jago Holmes, 36, who runs three gyms in Calderdale at Warley, Ripponden and Hipperholme. He's on a mission to get local residents to appreciate the benefits of exercise and has united with two other local trainers, Lee Richardson and Paul Drury to get the message across.

The three will run the bootcamps at 6.45 every Wednesday and expect them to be hugely popular. They say that's because most of their clients are professional people who have no spare time during the day to get fit and are often too tired to come back out on a night.

"Early mornings suit them because they can do a 45 minute work out and be on their way home for 7.30, get showered and arrive at work feeling they have achieved something," says Jago. "And I believe working outside and getting all that fresh air at the same time as getting fit will be a real winner."

According to the three, the sessions will be totally different to anything else out there at the moment. They will be fun and varied and include a warm-up, a workout and a fun cool down and stretch.

Twenty-four-year-old Lee, who works at Fitness First, Halifax, believes variety is the key to getting people to attend on a regular basis. "For fitness and weight loss to be effective it should be fun and varied and our sessions will certainly be that," he says.

He could soon be seen in action on Gladiators. Sky One is to bring back the Saturday night favourite hot on the heels of a successful relaunch in the United States.

The digital satellite channel will take over Gladiators broadcasting duties from ITV, where the series was a hit for most of the 1990's. The company behind it, Shine, say it will be given a 21st century make-over and will include much more exciting and dangerous contests.

Lee of Illingworth, Halifax, is through to the final stages after undergoing both physical and mental tests in Manchester. He's keeping his fingers crossed he'll get the chance to battle a new team of 12 gladiators, who are currently being recruited. It is believed ex-footballer Ian Wright could host the new version which goes out in the next couple of months.

Lee plans to introduce some of the new Gladiator games to Bootcamp sessions. Forty-one-year-old Paul also has plenty of new ideas thanks to the 10 years he spend working in the United States. He went to the US for the Atlanta Olympics and ended up staying and running his own coaching and personal training company, Big Life Production. He settled in Calderdale three months ago and runs his business from his home in Skircoat Green, Halifax.

The bootcamps, which Jago says will be hard work but challenging, are open to anyone. They cost £5 and individuals are asked to contact one of the three trainers or just turn up on the morning. For more information telephone 01422 836157.