A VILLAGE community is warming up to become more active as part of The Journal’s Great North Fitness Revolution.

People living in Allendale, Northumberland, are getting their running shoes on, joining new sports groups and working up a sweat this summer in a bid to lead the way for the North East.

Allendale has become the first community to pledge to get involved and hopefully act as a beacon for others around the region.

Retired PE teacher Vileria Dunn, 66, is helping to organise new events and is hopeful that lots of people living in the village will be inspired to do more regular exercise.

She said: “Allendale is quite a vibrant place, there are quite a lot of sporting activities going on here so we’re going to try and encourage people to take up a new sport or create a new club.

“A few years ago I helped start a netball club and I’m on the committee at the sports club, we’re constantly trying to raise funds.”

The village already has football and netball teams, as well as a popular golf club and yoga and karate groups. Vileria’s husband Ian, 66, a retired management consultant, played rugby and cricket in the past and still enjoys a round of golf and games of quoits or bowls.

For Vileria, a mother-of-four and grandmother-of-one, sport has been a big part of her social and working life.