THEY are taking to the dance floor in their senior years to stay young at heart and active in body.

Now pensioners from a Southampton dance club are urging people to put their best foot forward to beat off the looming dangers of killer diseases and illnesses.

Members of the FolkActive Dances at Freemantle and Shirley Community Centre in Randolph Street, Southampton, got behind the Daily Echo’s Staying Alive campaign on the eve of their first anniversary.

We launched the groundbreaking drive after revealing shocking statistics that the four major diseases of cancer, heart disease and stroke, and lung disease and liver disease claimed 13,000 lives in the county prematurely between 2009 and 2011.

Our initiative urges people to take active steps to overhaul their diet and fitness regimes to prevent the likelihood of a premature death.

Cath Watkins – a violinist and leader of fivepiece folk band Jigfoot – set up the group in July last year with a taster session at the Over 50s Festival.

Regular monthly classes launched in October and now more than 25 people are pairing up to try their hand at traditional and modern styles.

They range from Jane Austen-style country dancing to lively 21st century Ceilidh dances accompanied by music from three members of Jigfoot.

She said: “It’s essential that people try to keep active even if it’s just gentle exercise and if you can do something that you enjoy then it makes it much better.

“Cognitively it keeps your brain active as you’ve got to keep your wits about you to follow the moves and it’s a good low impact exercise.”

Most of the members are women – but men also attend and people are securing close friendships.

Jigfoot guitarist Nick Bradford said: “This music is made for dancing and it really comes alive.

“Anything that gets you up and moving is a good thing.”

Call 023 8022 7256 or email cath@meltingpot.org.uk for details.