A GYM owner has spoken out after a video showing his argument with police was viewed more than 50,000 times.

Tyler Mullings, 30, was captured in a heated clash with officers attending his gym, the Real Life Health and Fitness in Halliwell Business Park, on Wednesday.

Police had been called to the site to reports of Covid regulation breaches, finding a handful of people inside the premises upon arrival. Everyone present was said to be a member of staff, providing online classes to paying members.

The business owner refused to co-operate with police to provide proof of this until they had stepped outside with him, while officers refused to leave until Mr Mullings co-operated.

He said: “When I got here I could just hear a big argument and I got upstairs and asked the officer to step outside and we’d sort everything out."

He says his team has moved to online classes and nutrition plans during lockdown, with staff working from the gym.

Mr Mullings added: “It’s hard enough to get up every day and smile and be happy to do a live when you’re losing money without the police constantly coming round when we’re operating a legitimate business.”

Lockdown rules encourage people to work from home where possible but there is no legal requirement to do so.

At one point in the video, an officer can be seen withdrawing his handcuffs, telling Mr Mullings he will be arrested. When he claims the officer has no power to arrest him, the officer asks if he is resisting arrest, before replacing his handcuffs later.

Mr Mullings added: “When the sergeant arrived we managed to sort things out and at the end he apologised and said it shouldn’t have been dealt with like that, and thank God for that because if it wasn’t for him it would have just escalated."

He said he had received a number of messages of support since the video was posted online.

And Mr Mullings is supporting a Parliamentary petition, calling on gyms to be designated as 'essential premises' and made exempt from lockdown restrictions.

A police spokesman said: “Following reports of non-compliance with Covid-19 restrictions by a gym in the Bolton area, officers attended to engage with staff; explain the restrictions and encourage compliance. GMP is now supporting the local authority, which leads on enforcement relating to businesses.

"We take reports of non-compliance seriously and will continue to investigate any breaches of the restrictions in order to ensure the safety of our community throughout this pandemic.”