YOUNG-AT-HEART pensioners braved the elements last week and got a taste of the great outdoors at an ExtraCare activity weekend in Devon.

Three of the prospective Ryfields Retirement Village residents signed up for the week-long adventure, based around the ExtraCare Charitable Trust's 'stay active, stay young' philosophy.

The holidays, designed to build confidence and give older people the chance to explore their true potential, as well as to meet and make new friends, are held at the Calvert Trust, a specialist outdoor activity centre for elderly groups in North Devon.

Based on a circus theme, the Warrington group tried its hand at indoor challenges such as plate spinning as well as more daredevil activities like abseiling, canoeing and rockclimbing.

Betty and Tom O'Brien, of Old Hall, wasted no time in having a go at climbing and scaling a 30ft rock face.

Tom said: "I used to be a builder and climbed on scaffolding and ladders during my working life. The vertical challenge posed no great threat."

Tom, aged 68, scaled the wall the toughest of the three options in less than three minutes.

He added: "We are really enjoying ourselves and meeting lots of like-minded active people."

Betty, aged 74, enjoyed her flight down a sheer 50 metre zip wire so much that she went straight to the back of the queue and had another go. She was also the first person to successfully master the art of plate spinning.

Betty said: "Tom and I are loving being part of an active community. In years to come, we don't want to end up in a home, but we'd like some support so that we can keep active and continue to make new friends.

"At our age I think it is important to think ahead and by moving into Ryfields Village Tom and I are planning for tomorrow, whilst living for today. If this trip is a taste of things to come, we've certainly got a lot to look forward to."

Kath Paige, aged 76, from Latchford, joined in the challenges and faced her fears.

She said: "I am afraid of heights and was nervous about abseiling. When my son-in-law found out he did wonder how I would abseil when I struggle to get out of his car. With this in mind I was all the more determined to prove I could and, despite all odds, I have."