A 63-YEAR-OLD fitness fanatic is giving people half his age a run for their money at bootcamp-style classes at Birchwood Forest Park.

Martin Dugdale does push-ups, sit-ups, squats, star jumps and a full body work-out three times a week despite his knees seizing up 10 years ago.

The Gorse Covert resident balances the British Military Fitness (BMF) classes with his full time job as a landscape officer and spending time with his five grandchildren.

Martin has exercised regularly for 40 years and has run the London Marathon nine times between 1984 and 1996 but gave up when he had to have three operations on his knee.

The dad-of-two, who also takes his granddaughter Grace swimming, said: "I find the running hard work when they send me on a lap around the park but my pride won't let it beat me. It's awful but you get used to it.

"I don't want to end up as a fat lump. It's a way of life."

Martin, who lives with his wife Gill in Fisherfield Drive, goes to every BMF session on Monday and Wednesday evening and Saturday morning under the watchful eye of a former military instructor.

He added: "I like the adrenaline, the satisfaction and the challenge but I do accept I'm a bit mad. If it's dark nights, pouring down with rain or snowing I'll still do it."

Luis Lee, park manager for BMF at Birchwood Forest Park, said: "I think Martin is inspirational because unlike much of the older population he doesn't let age stop him from what he wants to achieve.

"In the end age is just a number and that's his attitude."