Eyes down for keep fit with bingo

10:00am Friday 7th November 2008

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

Players at Mecca Bingo in Moor Lane, Bolton, were put through their paces with a series of exercises, all done from the comfort of their bingo seat.

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 arms muscles while sitting at their game tables.

Betty Fallows, aged 75, from Jubilee House sheltered accommodation, Gas Street, plays bingo most nights.

She said: “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.”

Mecca is thinking of making the exercises a regular feature.

Mr Clarke said: “People were a bit nervous at first, but then actually enjoyed it.

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