SPRIGHTLY Molly Garvin is the star of her weekly exercise class - after celebrating her 100th birthday.

Centenarian Molly, of Mowbray Avenue, Black-burn, showed she was still fit and healthy - despite her years - by marching on the spot, doing leg raises and twirling her arms in the air.

The mother-of six, a great, great grandmother has been taking part in the pensioners' work-out class for the past 12 months and is the oldest member of the group.

She said: "I never really used to exercise when I was younger.

"When I worked as a ring spinner in the mills we got quite a long lunch break and me and the other girls used to kick our bare feet in the air to see how high we could lift our legs, but that was the only exercise I did.

"I used to be able to stand on my head too, but I'm not sure if I could do it now."

The exercise classes, run by Blackburn with Darwen Council, are aimed at preventing pensioners from having a trip or fall.

Health and fitness officer Alison Abbott said: "It is unusual for us to have someone as old as Molly in the class - most people are in their 80s or 90s.

"People get referred to us after they have had a fall and we do exercises with them that improve their balance and strength "It also makes them more aware of situations where they could fall and hurt themselves."

Molly joined the group after a pavement fall.

She said: "I hit my toe on the edge of a loose flag and down I went.

"I have always been very good on my feet, I just didn't see the edge of the flag.

"I really enjoy coming to the classes. They are great fun."

Blackburn Mayor Coun Maureen McGarvey went to the class to present a birthday bunch of flowers to Moly, who celebrated her 100th birthday last Thurs-day.

She said: "When you meet people of Molly's age they often can't walk or they have trouble talking, but Molly is up and about chatting away.

"She's the most energetic 100-year-old that I have ever seen."