CAN you touch your toes, stand on one leg for more than 10 seconds and walk a mile with ease? No?

Well, a high percentage of people aged 70-plus can, reveals a new survey that proves that many of the older generation are showing the rest of the population how to keep fit.

The Royal Voluntary Service questioned 2,200 people in the UK aged over 70 about their fitness and 79 per cent said they took regular exercise of an average three hours a week. This includes walking, playing a sport or going to the gym.

The study assessed the fitness levels of older people and found that more than half of over 70s could touch their toes, 78 per cent could stand on one leg for 10 seconds and 74 per cent had no problem walking a mile or more.

Many also recognised the value of staying physically active, with 78 per cent saying they believe it was important to look after yourself as you age and 69 per cent agreeing that they were responsible for their own wellbeing.

And RVS – formerly the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service – as one of the largest volunteer organisations in the country- has 25,000 volunteers helping older people stay active, independent and involved in their communities.

The research found that regular exercisers aged 70+ saw notable benefits from keeping fit, both physically and mentally. Forty per cent felt more flexible, 32 per cent had more energy and 27 per cent felt stronger. Half said they also felt happier and more positive; one in 10 said that regular exercise helped them cope better with loneliness.

Ken Heathcote know all about the positive side-effects of regular exercise. The 82 year-old, who lives in Bradshaw with his wife Brenda, is known nationally as The Father of Fitness and started the first gym as we know it today in Bolton 50 years ago.

He co-founded the Fitness Industry Association and has remained a strong devotee of keeping fit.

Ken still has a regular fitness routine. He swims five times a week and last Summer took part in three major open water swims – the Great North Swim covering 3.1 miles at Lake Windermere, a 5.2 mile swim of Lake Coniston and then a gruelling 10.25 miles swim covering the length of Windermere.

Ken also wrote a book last year called “We’re Going To Live Forever” , looking at the positive experiences of fitness among older people all over the country. “From my researches, it’s obvious that the way to extend our physical abilities as we get older is just to keep going,” he commented. “There’s a lot of truth in the saying if you don’t use it, you lose it. Exercise extends our physical abilities.”

For his book, Ken also visited some sterling examples of fit older people closer to home, including the women of The Fitness League (formerly the Women’s League of Health and Beauty) which meets at St Osmund’s Church in Breightmet. Here, the average age is 74.

One member, Lynne Ward aged 78, said: “The class is 85 years old and has been working for all of that time. My mother did it for over 60 years.”

Dr Wirin Bhatiani, Chair of Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) stated: “There are many reasons why older people slow down and become sedentary. This may be due to health problems, weight, pain issues or fear of falling.

“As we get older, an active lifestyle becomes really important. It has been shown in studies that physical activity is the No.1 contributor to longevity, adding extra years of qualify life. No matter what your age, it’s never too late to get started.”