A RIBBLE Valley woman has made it her mission to get everyone in the borough fitter and healthier.

Zoe Pickard, 26, has been appointed to the new role of Healthy Lifestyle Co-ordinator for the area, and will be setting up healthy-living activities with community groups and businesses.

The Clitheroe woman, whose post is funded by NHS East Lancashire, held her first official event at the Grand arts and performance centre, with a taster and tester session.

More than 50 people turned out to take part in Tai Chi, line dancing and aerobics, and Zoe is hoping to make the centre a base for regular future activities.

She said: “I was simply bowled over with the response to the first session.

"So many keen and enthusiastic people turned up and told us they enjoyed it immensely.

“We know that this aspect of what we plan is popular and we will build on this over future weeks and months.

"It was very informative and both the feedback and the suggestions were very helpful to us.”

Zoe said that she would be working to put on more fitness and leisure programmes.

She said: “My aim is to work with the local community and programme partners to encourage a sense of well-being and to promote healthy living activities at The Grand to benefit people of all ages and all levels of health.

"We aim to encourage residents to take part in healthy living activities and have ready access to health-related information, and we’ll always be looking for new ideas and ways of doing things.”

Anyone with suggestions of healthy lifestyle projects for the Ribble Valley can Zoe on info@the-grand.org.uk or on 01200 421599.