PENSIONERS at a care home put their fitness to the test when they were joined for an aerobics session by two Premier League stars.

Burnley captain Steven Caldwell and midfielder Andre Bikey joined in with the BodyVive session at Crow Wood Court, in Gawthorpe Road.

The fortnightly sessions are run by the club’s community team as part of their Creating Chances initiative.

Fitness trainers take the elderly residents through a series of stretches and warm-ups.

After taking part in a 20-minute session, Caldwell said it was tougher than he expected.

“It was extremely enjoyable but quite difficult actually, I’ve not got great co-ordination,” he said.

“To do it in time with the music was hard for me but the lady next to me was keeping me in time and showing me what to do.”

The community team currently run similar sessions in seven care homes around the borough.

The programmes have been adapted by the coaches to allow elderly people to take part regardless of whether disability or infirmity.

The sessions, which are sponsored by local housing association Calico, are pre-choreographed and delivered to music.

Marjorie Bolton, manager of Crow Wood Court who helped arrange the BodyVive sessions, said: “The people here love the activities, they always look forward to them.

“We always have a good turnout and the feedback we have had is very positive.”

Caldwell and Bikey took part in a session designed to work on areas of fitness that are used in everyday life, but deteriorate as we get older, such as co-ordination, balance and cardio-vascular fitness.

The overall aim of the session is to develop and maintain skills for independent living that deteriorate as the body ages, and also to combat age related isolation by providing a social activity in the housing schemes.

Caldwell said: “It’s great to do things like this and I enjoy going out for a few hours and meeting people, whether they be young or old.

“It’s a privilege to hear the support we get and provides an extra incentive.”