RESIDENTS who joined a pilot dancing club in Wood Farm have said they cannot wait for it to start up again.

Pensioners gathered once a week to dance to the sounds of the 60s and 70s as part of a project to get the elderly out of the house and more active.

The first six taster sessions, organised by councillors Mark Lygo and Susan Brown, aimed to encourage older people to socialise and make new friends.

And now the club will expand and restart in September after dance teacher Angela Conlan said the sessions were a success.

She added: “Everybody really enjoyed the first few sessions and we are looking forward to starting up again on September 7.

“Everyone who took part had different goals for coming including getting fit, improving balance or just getting out the house and being active.

“I had planned to do individual sessions in people’s homes, but then Mark [Lygo] found out and was quite excited about it, so we decided get more people involved.”

Mr Lygo and Ms Conlan knocked on the door of residents in Wood Farm to see if they would be interested in joining the dance group.

The pilot project cost £350 and was funded through Oxford City Councillors Mark Lygo and Susan Brown.

The money was used to rent a hall in Wood Farm Community Centre and about 10 people attended.

The new dance sessions will be open to the wider community and it is hoped it can attract more participants.

Maureen Stanley, 73, from Wood Farm said the dance club was “brilliant” and that she was looking forward to it starting up again.

She added: “It’s really friendly and we are all a bit more healthier. Angela is absolutely brilliant. She pushes us but not too far.

“I’ve made friends from it. It’s something to look forward to and I think it’s a really good social occasion.

“It brings all the community together. One or two people come on their own and have made good friends already.

Mr Lygo said he had been looking to create pilot project for the elderly in the area for some time.

He added: “The main reason is to improve health and wellbeing amongst older members of the community.

“It also prevents as many accidents due to being becoming fitter and it is a good social occasion.”