A two-year quest to find the perfect leisure facilities for the elderly has come to an end with the opening of a "pensioners' playground".
Looking just like any other playground, the "Older People's Play Area" in Dam Head Park, Blackley in north Manchester, is the country's first for the over-60s.
It features six pieces of equipment designed specifically to provide gentle exercise for the elderly.
As explained on the website of the Dam Head Residents Association - whose motto is "We don't ever give up" - the equipment includes The Massage (upper body exercise), The Skate (trains leg muscles), The Ski (trains hips), The Press (trains stomach and legs), and two stations for standing push ups and leg pedalling.
In its description of the latter, the website says: "Enhances lower body and provides a warm-up (a gradual warming of the muscle to reduce risk of strain)."
It also notes that some of the stations are accessible to wheelchair users, and carries the slogan "Never too old to play".
The equipment was installed after Peggy Yuill, treasurer of Dam Head Residents Association, saw a newspaper article about a similar facility in Germany.
Funding was provided from Northwards Housing, which runs the estate.
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