Central London flash mob tries to save YMCA from closure

Jenny, who was in the flash mob, stressed the club’s importance to people’s mental health: “We’re going to burden the NHS further if this closes.”

The Save the Central YMCA Club, which organised the dance protest, are campaigning for a six-month pause in the closure.

Campaigners said the delay was intended to give stakeholders time to come together to enable it “to thrive in a sustainable form”.

The YMCA on Great Russell Street has a 25m (82ft) swimming pool with a sauna and steam room, six exercise studios and a cycling studio, offering more than 125 classes each week.

Susie, 81, who was also in attendance at the flash mob, has been using the YMCA since she was 18.

She said: “What everybody wants is to have this facility stay open and to have the swimming pool, which is so useful to people who are older to do exercise.

“There are an enormous number of people who are 50-plus and here there are so many classes to keep you moving – over 900 people are senior members.”