CONNIE Smith has been running keep fit classes in Barnsley for more than 50 years and has no plans to quit yet – despite turning 90 later this year.

Every Wednesday afternoon she puts 20 women aged from 50 to their mid 90s through their paces with a series of exercises.

She has taught this class at the YMCA premises for 21 years and gave her first lesson in 1963 as part of the education classes programme.

Connie, of Whitehill Terrace, Barnsley, said: “Well, they say older people should be doing more. I was doing classes before 1963 so you reckon it up."

Shirley Rippon joined one of Connie’s classes at the old Racecommon Road School when she was 30 and now, aged 77, is still a member. She said: “It must be hard work trying to find something different every week but that is why people stop with the group. She is better than us for her age and people think if Connie can do it we can.”