GOLDEN girls Ruby Maiden and Gladys Kenyon of Oswaldtwistle have made it through to the Northern Final of this year's Whitbread Senior Citizens Talent Contest.

The talented twosome, who used to perform in nursing homes in a five piece act called the Golden Girls, beat other local contenders by singing a duet from the musical Chess and performing mime and dance from Easter Parade.

Gladys, 60, and Ruby, 61, met 15 years ago at St Mary's Operatic Society. Ruby, of Aspen Lane, is "hopefully confident" of success in the Northern final. Ruby said: "We're going to fly the flag for Hyndburn. No one's ever got through from here before - we're going to do it for OswaldM-Btwistle!"

Ruby fits her performing in around her many other interests, which include line dancing, caravanning, and looking after her 13 grandchildren and great-grandchild. When asked if she was nervous, she replied: "We're just about to be interviewed on Radio Lancashire, I'm more nervous about that!"

Gladys, of Jubilee Street, said: "Ruby and I performed in the Golden Girls for around ten years. After we all split up we thought it would be good to keep it going by doing something like this. At 60 and 61, we're only just old enough to qualify!"

The Northern Final takes place this week at the Dome Theatre in Morecambe, where they will be facing competition from 12 other acts from across the region. If Ruby and Gladys win, they will get £150 prize money and will go on to compete in the national final at Southport Theatre on July 23.

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