Tony Pattison has been keeping fit since he was 14.

But in 50 years few activities have made him as enthusiastic as nordic walking.

* Click here for more Roundhay Park news.

He took up the exercise on his 60th birthday after developing osteoarthritis in both knees and is now hoping to start classes in Roundhay Park for over-50s.

"I am absolutely over the moon about nordic walking," he said.

"It is the most natural movement. It uses so many muscles in your body, but you are not aware of it. My knees are better now
and nordic walking helped.

"Older people are often put off by gyms, but there is nothing intimidating about nordic walking. Anybody can do it. You can even start right from your door. All you have to do is changes your shoes."

But, he added, people had to learn the correct walking technique and how to hold the poles.

Nordic walking started in Finland in the 1930s and was devised by cross country skiers as a way of keeping fit during the summer when there was no snow.

"It is nowbooming in England," said Mr Pattison, 64, who lives in Easterly Road in north Leeds.

He is one of three trained instructors with the International Nordic Walking Association in the north and west of England.

Classes are already held for people of all ages at Temple Newsam and Bramley Falls, led by Helen Brook.

He has also just started functional fitness sessions – exercise for everyday life – at St Edmund's Church Hall in Roundhay on Fridays and is hoping to introduce extra sessions in other local venues.

A trained fitness instructor, he is being sponsored by Leonard Cheshire Disability Trust's Ready Start programme in conjunction with Barclays Bank in promoting exercise for older people.

He has been blind in one eye since an accident at the age of nine.

A former English teacher for 27 years, Mr Pattison has been involved in all sorts of exercise during the past 50 years, such as weight-lifitng, rock climbing and fell-walking, and he stills cycles everywhere

* For more details on nordic walking classes contact Mr Pattison on 07957 569229 or email: tjpattison@yahoo.co.uk or Helen s on 07976 002174 or email: helen@brookhirst.co.uk