HUSBAND and wife team Ian and Elaine Smith from Darwen have caught the fitness bug - and become the 1,000 and 1,001st participants in the Fitness for Life scheme.

The keep fit couple were recommended to take up the exercise programme - run by Blackburn with Darwen Council and the East Lancs Health Authority - by their GP to help control their weight and relieve mild arthritis.

Elaine has diet-controlled diabetes which has been helped by the exercise.

The duo, of Lord Street, Darwen, are now working out to a programme designed for them by Claire Swales, the council health and fitness development officer.

The first prescription for exercise was issued four years ago at Darwen Leisure Centre. Now the scheme is so successful that all the borough's leisure centres participate, with hundreds of people taking the advice from health and fitness development staff.

Previous news story

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.