WOMEN were given a taste of different types of exercise at an event at Audley Sports and Community Centre, Blackburn.

The event, organised as part of the International Women's Festival, included a range of exercise classes to suit all ages and abilities - from Tai Chi to circuit training, as well as massage and reflexology sessions.

The idea was to give women a chance to try new activities and gain confidence by exercising in a non-competitive environment.

Dianne Kershaw, health and fitness development officer for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "A lot of people nowadays know that they should be exercising but they don't know what is available, so the idea of the day was to have half-hour tasters of all the different exercise classes we have in the borough.

"It went really well. We had 42 people in, when normally we only get between 10 and 12 for the ladies' activity sessions. They all stayed for more than one activity too."

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