Pensioners in Bath are being invited to take to the dance floor as part of a new community scheme.

Over the next two months, tea dances for the over-60s are being held at the Carrswood Resource Centre in Twerton.

If the trial is successful, organisers are hoping to expand the scheme across Bath and north east Somerset.

The Tuesday morning sessions have been set up by the directors of the Bath Dance Festival, James and Joanna Whitehead.

Mr Whitehead said that people of all abilities were invited to join in the classes.

He said: "Dance has a wide range of benefits, not least with the encouragement of physical activity, however small, but also with increasing social cohesion – the opportunities to meet up with friends, have a chat and even join in some dancing.

"We are very much looking forward to the first event."

The scheme, which would complement singing sessions run the Golden-Oldies charity for older people in the city, is being run with support from Morgan-Brinkhurst Consultancy and Somer Community Housing Trust.

Director of customer services at Somer, Julie Evans, said: "Activities like this are vital in bringing the community together, and improving the health and wellbeing of our older residents."

The sessions will be held every Tuesday morning in March and April, starting next week, and will be also open to the less-able bodied who can just enjoy the music and the atmosphere.

For more information, to book a place or to discuss transport arrangements, contact Loraine Morgan- Brinkhurst on 823004 or James Whitehead on 339342.

Meanwhile, dancers of a younger generation have been showing off their skills in a national competition.

A Latin and ballroom team for the University of Bath scooped fifth place in the Inter-varsity Dancesport Competition in Blackpool.

They beat off competition from 95 other student teams, with two of its couples achieving first place in their categories.

Daniel Taylor and Sarah Smith won the intermediate ballroom and Hayden Phyo and Nicole Hurley secured the novice Latin American title.

Head coach Paula Goodyear said she thought it was most successful result in the university's 25-year history of dance.

She said: "We were thrilled to be able to see so many of the dancing couples doing so well after all of their hard work this year.

"We would like to congratulate them all and thank them for all of the hard work they put in to achieve these fantastic results."