May Obee's demonstration group of seniors - the youngest a mere 65 and the eldest a sprightly 77 - were among the 1,000 gymnasts performing at the annual gala of dance, movement and gymnastics which saw groups travel to Inverness from all over the UK and one from as far away as Nova Scotia, in Canada.

May Obee, who has been running fitness and movement classes for 20 years, said the ladies' performance was the best ever and added: "It has been a lot of hard work and this is the reward. We might be getting on and we might be a bit stiffer than some of the younger ones, but we prove that life does not finish at 60. I would say to anyone, just get up and do it."

And that is just what the ladies intend to do when they are invited back next year and May is already thinking about a new dance routine for her Bromley Valley Seniors for Gymfest 2001, which moves to Edinburgh next time.

Scottish Gymfest chairman Gordon Scott first spotted the Bromley seniors at a demonstration in Crystal Palace six years ago and was so impressed he invited them to Inverness.

He said: "These ladies are very dear to us. Six years ago they came to the festival with much trepidation but they got such a warm reception from the audience and the youngsters from the other clubs that they quickly became local celebrities."