While most women collect their bus pass at 60 Chris Jenkins enjoys a gruelling fitness regime that would make a 20-year-old groan, as ALISON WHITE found out .

An exercise teacher for 35 years, seven children and more than a dozen grandchildren - and now a lifetime achievement award. No wonder people used to call Chris Jenkins' brood the fit family.

Chris, who is 60, received the Fitness Wales Lifetime achievement Award, presented by National Assembly Minister Jane Hutt.

Chris, from Pontypool said: "It was a complete surprise. It was just like the Oscars. "It felt a very special day. I didn't have a speech prepared but I managed to say a few words."

Chris Jenkins is health and fitness co-ordinator for Torfaen and Exercise for Life facilitator, as well as a national trainer for Fitness Wales.

Chris added: "I said well lifetime achievement, that means I am at the end of the road, does it?"

She said she intended to go on and on and would continue teaching "until I die". Chris said: "I don't want to give it up. All being well as long as I am healthy I would like to carry on for ever."

She teaches 10 classes a week and co-ordinates between 40 and 50 classes a week in the Torfaen area.

Chris said her motivation to teach stems from her love of people. She said: "I just like seeing people.

"I have children in my class that have had children themselves. "Some of the children have come in my classes which is nice."

When asked how she manages to be so active and keep up with a large family, Chris said: "I have been very fortunate and lucky in life. I am very lucky to work in the industry I enjoy."

Exercise for Life aims to help those with low risk medical conditions and those at risk from illness and disease with gentle exercise by GP referral. It also aims to expand exercise in the community.

Chris is passionate about the benefits of exercise for all. She said combining health as well as fitness is the future.

She said: "It's only 28 per cent of us that are active. So this is what we need to do is trying to get the rest of the people through our strategy, so that is why we have the doctors' referral scheme.

"We've got so many things going on in the local leisure centres and community halls." Chris is keen to stress the importance of exercise for the over-50's. She said: "It is very, very important, even if it is just walking, it does not have to be hard exercise."

She suggests at least 30 minutes exercise most days of the week. She said this could involve walking to the shops or taking the stairs instead of the lift. Chris said: "You can break that up into three ten minutes of activity." "It does make you feel good and helps you meet people.""Exercise is for everybody."

For more information on the Exercise for Life scheme call Chris on 01633 627128.