Lee gets his campers ship-shape

Forget Simon Cowell – Lee Winders is a Mr Nasty in a totally different league of his own.

The 41-year-old from Kidderminster runs a Boot Camp in Wednesbury and every week puts his "victims" through a gruelling workout. He barks orders at them, military-style, pushing them to the limit.

For 16 years Lee, who is nicknamed The Machine, was in the marines and then the army and he has brought everything he has learned to the Boot Camp sessions.

His recruits regularly flip heavy tractor tyres and do exercises carrying 10kg weights in each hand.

It is hoped more people will sign up to his classes as Sandwell is listed as one of the top 10 places in the country for people to suffer from obesity. Sandwell health bosses say inactive people are costing them about £4.5 million each year to treat.

The borough has been told to carry out a new Government plan to improve physical activity in Sandwell, which has 9,000 premature deaths every year. Lee, who grew up in Middlesbrough, said: "Being in the marines got rid of my bad ways and turned me from a boy into a man."

He said that after a while the strict regime became a way of life. After leaving the marines, he worked for Land Rover and then in 2005 started at Fitness First.

"I am nasty when I shout at them – but at the same time I'm firm and fair," said Lee.

l Lee can be contacted on 0121 505 5252.