Britain needs more female personal trainers, figures from the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) reveal, with women only making up 35 per cent of the profession.

Currently 5,256 women make up the 13,770 trainers registered with REPs.

This is despite the fact a career in personal training can fit around the demands of raising a family.

Chief executive of the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation Sue Tibballs said female personal trainers act as sporting role models for women and girls.

"It's a great time for women to get involved in the fitness industry - successful female athletes, like Jessica Ennis and Laura Trott, have made it aspirational to be fit and healthy and women's fitness is finally entering the mainstream."

Personal training academy The Training Room take in around 2,500 people each year but the percentage of women on their courses is approximately 22 per cent.

Head of training Lucy Jackson said older women who took their courses were often seeking work to fit around their family or provide supplementary income, and brought empathy and life skills to their work.