GRANDMOTHER Vera Clarke (pictured) may be 79, but she's still full of Eastern promise.

Rather than sitting at home in Abergavenny with her knitting, Vera is known to do a bit of the sort of shaking and gyrating favoured by pop stars like Shakira - but all in the best possible taste, of course.

Vera, of Parc Penyfal, took up belly dancing at the age of 78.

"I have always exercised, I've done yoga and running for which I have medals.

"I wanted to do something different. At my age you need to get out and enjoy life, so I took up belly dancing."

Vera has been a member of teacher Lara Smith's weekly Belly-Y-Fenni class in Abergavenny for a year.

Whereas most grandmothers tend to wear sensible cardigans, Vera likes to put on her coin belt and colourful, traditional belly dancing outfit.

Vera says: "The class is brilliant, it's just a great laugh, I wear a traditional costume but I don't show all my tummy - it just peeks through."

Some people might think it a little risque for a women of Vera's age to be practising the eye-catching dance.

But Vera says: "I don't think it's risque for a pensioner to belly dance - I'm quite naughty anyway!"

Daughters Maxine, 48, and Tonia, 38, are happy that their mother has taken up the dance. But Vera adds: "They think I'm mad!"

Lara, 33, has been teaching the dance for two years.

She says: "They are a great bunch of women. Belly dancing is liberating for women and the bigger you are the better - hips are good.

"Lots of popstars are picking up the moves, Shakira is the best example. "In the class we wear skirts or trousers and a coin belt which helps you hear your body move and we go bare foot.

"I definitely recommend it to other 79-year-olds and any other ages."