A LIGHT-FOOTED great granddad from Turton has put his long life down to 70 years of dancing.

Reg Collier, aged 87, first learned to ballroom dance in 1945 at Bolton's famous Astoria Palais de Danse — where he went on to meet his wife of 64 years, Bessie, aged 86.

The former dance hall, on the corner of Higher Bridge Street and St George's Road, was a place where many Bolton couples had their first dance.

The venue even remained open during the Second World War offering a much needed place of recreation for service men and women.

The dance hall, which is soon to be showcased in a new BBC documentary, once hosted Come Dancing and was at the heart of Bolton's social scene until it became a discotheque in the late 1970s.

The great-grandfather of five said: "I'm sure that dancing has something to do with living a long life because it keeps you fit and healthy. If you're dancing from 7.30pm until 10pm once or twice a week, it's fantastic exercise.

"I have been dancing since I was about 17 years old. I used to go to the Q Club and the Palais — which is where I met my wife Bessie. It used to be a spring floor and was a beautiful venue. My favourite dance from there was the slow foxtrot, and tune was the Woodchoppers Ball.

"Bessie was a lovely dancer, she really caught my eye. I picked her out of the crowd because she stood out from everyone else."

Mr Collier carried on his love of ballroom with his wife throughout their long marriage until Mrs Collier had a knee replacement.

Despite this, the pair still take an active role in their favourite pastime at the Barlow in Edgworth, and enjoy watching Strictly Come Dancing every week.

Mr Collier said: "Both Bessie and I enjoyed dancing together throughout our marriage. Naturally we had breaks here and there when our children were born and we were raising them, but we always went back to it.

"Sadly Bessie is no longer able to dance due to her health, so I have another dance partner now. But Bessie still comes with me and helps out there.

"We both watch Strictly, but only on a Sunday as our dance classes are on a Saturday. Their routines are more about entertainment for the TV than just the dances, but it is a good show, and it's great to see that it is so popular."