FORGET ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, it’s all about sequence dancing in Greenock as a long-running club helps pensioners take a step in the right direction to a healthy, longer life.

Dancing partners Isa and Robert Heron, pictured front, who have been married for 63 years, say their sequence dance class is now more popular than ever after starting it at the 175 Masonic Club in Greenock over 20 years ago.

The dancing duo, who are both aged 86, have been gracing the dancefloor since they were 17 — and have no plans to bow out.

Robert said: “Dancing is the secret to the success of our marriage.

“We have been stepping out since we were 17. We started off doing ballroom but then we moved on to sequence dance.

“This class at the 175 Club has been going strong since the 1990s and just seems to be getting more and more popular.

“It gets older people out and about and allows them to enjoy companionship and make new friends.

“It is a fantastic asset to the community.”

Moira Jamieson, 78, from Greenock, who often kindly hands out chocolates to dancers during a break in the action, says she loves dancing and the company of members.

She said: “It makes you meet other folk.

“I have been doing it for years and years and I don’t think I’ll ever stop coming along. As well as the social side, it also keeps me fit.”

Sisters Lena Irving, 75, from Inverkip, and Betty Flynn, 83, from Greenock, also enjoy the weekly class.

Lena said: “We love singing the songs and it’s a joy to watch Robert and Isa dance, they are fantastic.

“The people in here are like a big family.”

The dance class is on every Thursday at the 175 Masonic Club in Kelly Street from 1.30pm to 4pm.

All are welcome to come along on the day.