Life-prolonging rehabilitation courses for dozens of residents with heart conditions have been suspended for eight months.

Pensioners recovering from bypass surgery, angioplasty and even heart attacks have not been provided with a qualified cardio instructor to run exercise routines at Canon’s Leisure Centre in Mitcham since August, prescribed to them by doctors.

They have battled Merton Council and operator Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) for a replacement instructor to be appointed after the last one left for personal reasons.

While finally successful, they are being denied access to the reinstated class unless they obtain a renewed doctors’ referral.

Richard Bellamy, 77, of London Road, Mitcham said: “They might want us to go away quietly but we’re not going to let that happen, we deserve to be treated better.

“This has turned into a real battle. It just feels like because we’re old or there aren’t a lot of us we don’t really matter.”

Martin Wilkins, 62, who has coordinated the class for eight years, said: “We all feel let down and have been told different stories by different people with different agendas. We are a group of older cardiac exercisers whom GLL believes it can push around at will.

“Apart from the obvious benefits physically for the cardiovascular system, there is a significant social aspect to the class which also helps considerably in rehabilitation.”

In a joint statement from GLL and Merton Council, a spokesman said the classes were being brought back in response to customer demand and a new qualified instructor has been appointed.

He added: “Any new scheme would require participants to be referred by their GP and provide some medical history. This is for customers’ own safety and to comply with the British Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation guidelines.

“The overall aim of this is to provide a safe and productive environment in which people can rehabilitate.”