It may not look like your average keep fit class but for a group of women in the Black Country it is helping them to stay “young at heart”.

The gentle exercise sessions, especially designed for over 60s, have been running on Dudley’s Priory estate for 10 years.

Members, who range in age from 63 to 88, do a range of moves from simple hand-clapping to the more energetic such as line-dancing.

Some of the exercises can be done sitting down while others require the women to get on their feet and move around the room with the music.

But it not just about keeping healthy as the weekly sessions at St Francis Parish Centre in Poplar Crescent also help the women to meet new friends and socialise on trips.

Sisters Kath Cooper, aged 83, and Janet Rawlings, 63, have been attending the classes since they began.

Mrs Rawlings, from Woodsetton, said: “It is a good way of keeping fit and having fun at the same time. The exercises are not difficult and there is no pressure to do everything.

“Everyone gets on so well. We just have a laugh and a natter between ourselves. It is a lot of fun.”

Friend Marion Cymler of Hazel Road added: “We do a bit of line dancing which I really like and other fun exercises. We always have a good giggle. It helps us to stay young at heart.” Retired receptionist Lillian Sheldon, 69, of the Broadway, has been going to the classes with sister Sheila Tighe,68, for eight years.

She said: “I started going to the classes for the exercise and I kept going because I just had so much fun. I’ve made some really good friends.”

The Extend classes are run by Debbie Jones from Kingswinford who teaches at a variety of venues in the Black Country.

They began through Age Concern Dudley’s LEAP Over 60 Project in June 1999 to promote physical exercise.

A 10th anniversary celebration will take place at the Retreat Cafe in the Parish Centre on July 14 from 10.30 am.

Debbie said: “The classes have really taken off. We’ve gone from five or six people to almost 40.”

To contact Debbie, call 01384 288350.