Welcome to Britain's oldest exercise class, a group of retirees with combined age of 1,500 years

Welcome to Britain's oldest exercise class - a group of retirees with a combined age of more than 1,500 years.

Every Tuesday at 11am, 20 senior citizens meet up in a village hall in Whittlesford, Cambs., to do pilates.

The group - made up of 19 women and just one man - is led by Frances Dumbleton, a local resident and former photographer.

She started the class in 2016 as an opportunity for older people to be social and exercise, and expected just a handful to show up.

But, nearly six years later, she has a roaring success on her hands - which has provided vital support during Covid.

The class, which is free to attend, has been dubbed 'Laughasize Pilates', as it also features comedy from Frances, 81.

Participants turn up every week and perform stretches while Frances - a former stand-up comic - tells jokes.

But, while beginning as an exercise class, it has evolved into something more.

Mrs Cross said: "I must say, I think it's been a lifesaver for me. It really has. I should hope that I go on to be 100.

"Not only has it been good to learn how to do exercise, but it's been such a good community thing. We all get on well together."