By SARAH HARKER

MORE then 100 pensioners, exited at the prospect of learning more about their new home, descended upon Rylands Recreation Ground this week.

The twice monthly interest meetings, held at the Rylands pavilion give prospective residents the chance to talk with staff from the ExtraCare Charitable Trust and residents from Berryhill Retirement Village in Stoke on Trent.

Kathleen Brown drove nearly 30 miles to find out more about the village and hopes to move in when the development is completed next year.

She said: "If I move here my ambition is to find out exactly what's going on and make sure I can join in. The chance to get involved with village activities will be an enriching part of my lifestyle."

Kathleen uses a wheelchair to get around and used to race her chair at events all over Britain and was the national 100m women's champion.

Another potential villager, Stanley Houghton, a retired driving examiner from Orford, said: "Older people should take the opportunity to do things but often feel insecure in their own homes and therefore don't get out as much as they would like to the village will encourage participation."

Staff from Warrington Collegiate Institute, who specialise in lifelong learning, were on hand at the meeting to demonstrate a computer session for potential residents.

Collegiate representative, Janice Snape, who organises learning sessions in the community for older people, said: "I have been really impressed by the interest in our computer and crafts sessions - there's a real buzz here and a hunger to learn."

Assistant director of ExtraCare, Angela Bradford, said: "People here are enthused by the opportunities these facilities represent. I am delighted because enthusiasm is a vital ingredient and there's no shortage of it here in Warrington."

The next meeting for people to find out more about the village will be on April 23, 11am to 3pm, in the Pavilion at Ryfield's Recreation Ground.

To find out more about the development call the freephone hotline on 0870 264 7303.