THROWING left hooks and right jabs two nonagenarians at a Great Sankey retirement home attracted a crowd as they got to grips with an advanced form of entertainment.

Ninety-seven-year-old Walter Cross and 91-year-old Marion Hilton went head to head on the virtual boxing game before an audience ranging from late 70s to late 90s at Green Park care home last Wednesday after being presented with a Nintendo Wii console.

Players can compete in a range of sports including tennis, tenpin bowling and golf by replicating the games’ physical actions, which are then played on screen.

Walter, a retired ambulance driver in the RAF, said: “I think it’s a really good idea. I’m nearly blind and hard of hearing so I will have to take my time but I’m looking forward to playing everyone.”

While Marion said: “I have never used a computer before but I thought the experience was exceptionally good, if not a little tiring.”

Walter’s other competitor, 88-year-old Olga Jones, added: “I would have preferred to play tennis but I remember when I played in Bewsey Park after I left school the boys said they hoped my dancing was better than my tennis, which it was!”

Other residents are also looking forward to trying the sports they have not had the chance to play for years.

Eighty-three-year-old Dot Colei, formerly of Latchford, said: “I used to play darts when I was younger and a bit of bowling. I think this will be good to while away some time as long as I can get used to the new technology.”

Ron Eccleston, aged 82, agreed: “I think anything that occupies our time is a good idea. I think there will be healthy competition between us. I used to play soccer and badminton in my younger days but I’m loooking forward to having a go on the machine.”

Ellen Smith, aged 79, said: “I still play a little bit of badminton but this will be good to play other sports on. It can be quite competitive here but I’m going to give them a run for their money.”

But Mrs Smith will have to contend with 97-year-old Mary Strickland who has played on the Wii before.

She said: “I played it at my son’s house and I thought it was very good. I played the bowling with my daughter-in-law and I scored more than her!

“I’m looking forward to the bowls most of all but I will take part in anything – although it will be embarrassing if I make a mistake.”

Great Sankey South councillor Jim Regan, older people’s champion for the borough council, came up with the idea of the parish council giving the three care homes in the area items to help improve their quality of life.

West Vale House and Sankey Manor each requested a garden bench while Green Park asked for a Nintendo Wii.

Clr Regan said: “I think it’s a really good idea as it gets the older people active and mobile rather than sitting down and it will help improve their co-ordination as well as giving them some exercise.

“Hopefully, if this is successful, we can progress this across all the nursing homes in Warrington.”

Tracey Potter, activities co-ordinator at Green Park, added: “The Wii is meant to have really good health benefits and we are hoping it will also create more interaction with grandchildren and with each other.”