GREAT gran Jessie Driver has never been one to take life slowly -- so she celebrated her 80th birthday by organising a fitness class.

Up to 28 ladies, aged between 60 and 85, turned up at Jessie's music and movement class in Earby and according to Jessie, who hit the big Eight-O yesterday, they all thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

She said: "They are all pensioners and they are absolutely wonderful. They are all young at heart.

"It's a relaxed atmosphere and they even sing along to the music."

Jessie, who lives in Colne with her husband Edgar, started running fitness classes at the community hall in Linden Road, in Earby, in 1989 but had run classes in the Hendly Hotel, in Colne, for many years before.

She puts her success down to her good friend, Millie Hindle, who died last week at the age of 79.

Jessie, who had a knee replacement only two years ago, said: "Millie introduced fitness classes to Pendle 40 years ago and I started going to her class shortly after they began.

"When she retired she asked me if I would take over from her. I am always grateful to her and I promised her I would carry it on."

When Jessie decided it was time to retire, a member of staff from Pendle Outreach asked her to continue running classes for elderly people in Earby.

She said: "After a lot of persuasion I went along and knew two people there and that's how it started. Only eight people turned up the first time but the group has just grown through word of mouth.

"We exercise to tunes with rhythm. A lot of modern tunes have plenty of rhythm but they have to fit in with the exercises. I remember Millie used to always say 'the music tells you what to do next'.

"One of the members brought me a leaflet recently which had been printed by the Arthritis Council and it featured a series of exercises and we do every one on it so I was very pleased."

Regular classes, on Mondays between 2pm and 3.30pm, are so popular that people travel from Colne, Foulridge, Kelbrook, Barnoldswick and Barrowford to take part.

Jessie, who has three children, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, said: "They all know at the class that if they feel strain they can sit down when they want and join in again after. It's very beneficial.

Jessie had some earl birthday celebrations when her family took her out for a meal at the weekend. She added: "Time goes quickly but I always try to enjoy myself."