Ladies banish their bingo wings

4:11pm Thursday 6th November 2008

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IT was eyes down to banish those bingo wings at a town centre bingo hall.

Players at Mecca Bingo in Moor Lane got more than they bargained for during an evening session.

They were put through their paces with a series of exercises, all done from the comfort of their bingo seat.

The exercises were designed to give the game physical as well as mental benefits.

Dave Barker, Mecca general manager, said: “We’ve always known playing bingo keeps minds active and now we can help to keep our players’ bodies active too.”

Membership manager, Will Clarke, took to the stage on Wednesday night to take the players through a short routine.

They used their handbags, lifting them up and down in front of them and to the side, to exercise various arms muscles, all while sat at their game tables.

Rhona Raines, aged 67, lives in Musgrave Gardens, Heaton, and goes to Mecca once or twice a week.

She said: “You can get rid of your bingo wings while you play bingo, I think it’s a great idea.”

Betty Fallows and Vi Scott live at Jubilee House in Gas Street, a sheltered accommodation facility, and play bingo most nights.

Mrs Scott, aged 77, said: “We are quite active and get out a lot, but a lot don’t so it’s a good idea.”

Seventy-five-year-old Mrs Fallows said: “I think it’s a good thing to do.

“I’m active anyway but some people aren’t and it doesn’t do any harm to do more.”

Now Mecca are thinking of making the exercises a regular feature of their games.

Mr Clarke said: “I think people were a bit nervous at first but then actually really enjoyed it.

“I think we might do it again and we’ll look to see if we can do it more often.”