RETIRED folk in Kinver are flocking to their new ‘university’ - showing a range of interests from ‘A to Y’.

Around 100 people attended the first meeting of the village's U3A (University of the Third Age) and now they are preparing to set up their first special interest groups.

They filled in questionnaires listing the interests they would like to develop, which ranged from archaeology and art appreciation to yoga.

"In excess of 60 different interests were listed - not quite from A to Z, but almost there with yoga," said vice chairman of Kinver U3A Brian Quaintance.

"The most popular was outings and social activities, including theatre and ballet.

"Other interests included genealogy, digital photography, computer skills and crafts."

Chairman Ben Thompson is already poised to start a Spanish group and leaders have also been identified for French, jazz and table tennis.

Another meeting is planned for Friday July 31 at 2pm at Kinver Community Centre, where it is hoped that people will get together in their interest groups, with help from the committee to organise any venues they may need.

Members of the U3A should be retired or semi retired and there is no age limit, although they tend to be older people.

Mr Quaintance said the first meeting had been "fantastic", adding: "At 1.45pm nobody was there but by 1.50pm we were putting out extra chairs.

"So we know there is a demand for the U3A - and we would like to thank the Stourbridge News for the publicity it gave to us and to local shops that put up posters."

More information is available by contacting U3Akinver@gmail.com