A 90-YEAR-OLD pensioner got the surprise of her life when she turned up for her weekly fitness class at Bamber Bridge Leisure Centre.

Friends of Frances Shuttleworth decided to throw the sprightly pensioner a surprise birthday bash!

Frances said: "It was a surprise, I had no idea!

"It was my 90th birthday on August 8, but I've been coming 11 years. There's no stopping me."

The surprise get-together was organised by pal Hilda Yates, a fellow fitness fan. Hilda found out it was Frances' birthday, and secretly organised the bash in her honour. Most of the class joined in, and helped supply a buffet, flowers, plants, sherry and giant birthday cake!

Hilda said: "She's just a wonderful lady and we all think the world of her.

"And she keeps up with us all. It's a class for the over fifties and she does a wonderful job.

"She has one sister who was a hundred at Christmas and one who was 94 last week so I think it must run in the family.

"So I gave everyone a slip of paper saying this lovely lady was going to be 90 in August, and could we organise a party."