By SARAH HARKER

EVERY month a curious and excited party of Warrington's older residents make a trip to Stoke-on-Trent to witness for themselves what their future promises to hold.

For these visitors are experiencing first hand the lifestyle and activities at Berryhill Retirement Village, the model upon which Warrington's own Ryfields Village is based.

They have all registered their interest in the new way of life and eagerly await news regarding their application to live in the new village, set to be completed by summer next year.

I accompanied one group and saw for myself the unique and quite remarkable world of Berryhill.

The village concept aims to create a community within a community, a safe, secure activity-based future for its residents.

The first and second floors of the building are made up of individually themed and named corridors or 'streets', the walls adorned with amazing artwork created by the residents themselves in the weekly art classes. Each front door has its own number, intercom and letterbox, for daily postal deliveries and a box for newspapers, milk and bread, each delivered to the door at the request of the resident.

Access can only be gained to these floors by residents using an individually coded electronic pass.

There's always something happening at Berryhill, whether it be carpentry in the woodworking rooms where residents boast of their latest creations which include bird tables, dolls houses and furniture, all of an incredibly high standard, or glass painting, pottery, ceramics or gardening in the village greenhouse.

With its own gym, jacuzzi and steam room, the fitness room is a constant hive of activity. Dawn Cave, the instructor, creates a personal workout programme for each resident based on particular aims and abilities, providing the opportunity to keep fit in a relaxed and social environment.

And there's an IT room where the village's monthly newsletter is produced by residents along with a daily timetable of activities.

The village also has its own TV stars who appear on their private channel where programmes give advice about healthy living and well- being.

Residents and their visiting friends and families regularly pop into the private restaurant and lounge with a grand piano for a special treat in classy surroundings, The huge village hall is where the activities are held. It's also regularly hired out for weddings, parties, anniversaries and birthdays. Sessions in the relaxation rooms are almost always fully booked with the facilities proving a real winner among the residents where they can relax with meditative music, ripple beds, massages and soothing lighting effects.

And villagers don't have to go far for a new look either as the ground floor also boasts its own hairdressing and beauty salon as well as a gift shop and village store all managed by the residents themselves.

Angela Bradford, assistant director of the ExtraCare Charitable Trust and former manager of Berryhill Village simplifies the village concept, describing it as 'good quality accommodation, activity based support, enabling plenty of opportunities.'

She said: "Here the residents are given the chance to build upon their existing skills and learn new ones. Everyone has a part to play. We have a lot of real talent here which would otherwise have remained hidden.

"One of the most rewarding things is seeing the residents open up. When they first join the village they can be very insular and shy, but to see the same people become proud of their village and get involved in village life is wonderful."

And the future is looking bright for Warrington's own Ryfields Village with tai chi, yoga and car maintenance classes in the pipeline. Angela added: "For the people of Warrington the support starts here. We'll help them every step of the way to make informed choices regarding benefits, and also assist them with things like choosing furniture and decorating their new homes."

Village life is unique, exciting and alive with possibilities. A life of luxury filled with the promise of endless opportunities is undoubtedly the way forward in providing older people with the care, support and lifestyle they deserve.