Sporting senior citizens have stretched and sweated their way to a £2,000 prize after being named the UK's favourite lottery-funded sports project.

Fit@Sixty won the award after beating more than 640 sports projects from across the country, receiving a majority of the 150,000 public votes.

Fitness fanatic and group member Grace Sheldon collected the trophy from sporting legend Gary Lineker at the 2007 National Lottery Awards, shown live on the BBC on Saturday, September 15.

The group has around 130 members, some aged more than 90 years, who take part in one of the 17 classes the scheme offers each week at Tavistock Court in Bedford.

Grace said: "We are absolutely thrilled to win this award and would really like to thank everyone who voted for us.

"Being on the BBC show and winning the £2,000 will have an amazing impact on everyone at the project.

"The funding has allowed us to truly make a difference to the lives of older people in the region."

Lottery sports ambassador Lineker said: "Fit@Sixty received an overwhelming response from the public who really got behind them.
"After spending a day with Fit@Sixty I can see why they pulled in all those votes.

"Fit@Sixty is a fantastic example of how Lottery funding has really made a difference to the community."

The scheme was started four years ago by Janet Cook, a warden for Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association, and allows elderly residents to learn new skills and take part in activities like line dancing, curling and bowls plus arts and crafts.