A community Women's Institute group feels "so lucky" to have discovered using resistance bands to exercise.

The Claines-based group, called the Corn Dollies, came across the beneficial use of the bands after recreating an exercise routine to Kyle Minogue's 'I Should Be So Lucky'.

Resistance bands, simple yet strong elastic bands that can be used to exercise the entire body, have proved to be helpful in building and maintaining muscle strength, improving strength and posture, increasing mobility, and alleviating joint pain.

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This type of exercise regimen is particularly beneficial considering people over 50 lose around one percent muscle mass each year without regular exercise.

Mo Wood, vice president of the Corn Dollies branch of the Women's Institute, said: “I want to keep living well as I grow older and I can see that keeping moving does make a difference.

"So I decided that our WI ladies would benefit from doing something in a non-threatening environment, something they could take away and continue doing at home while you're watching the television.

"Have a few stretches and you do feel much better.”

Fitness enthusiast Val Powell, about to turn 85, who is referred to as the Jane Fonda of Claines, said: "You can use them sitting, standing, watching the TV, even lying on your bed.

"Any movement you can do stretching your muscles is good for you."

Lisa McNally, director of Public Health in Worcestershire, said: "When we think of getting fit and exercising, we automatically think of running or cycling, and that stuff is important.

"But, especially as we get older, over 50, we have to also think about our strength and using resistance bands is a great way to do that.

"Just ten minutes a day, to build up the strength in our arms, our legs and also our balance.”

As part of Worcestershire County Council's Living Well for Longer programme over 40,000 resistance bands have been distributed, and more than 43 organisations have been trained to run exercise sessions since 2020.

Free resistance bands along with an exercise booklet for those aged over 50 are available at any Worcestershire library.