ANYONE looking to lose weight for the new year in 2008 was being an unusual way of doing so - pole dancing.

Pole dancing instructor Aimee Davies, originally from Weston, was moving to bridgwater to expand her business - Spinning Around - which offers a beginner's course to the art.

And she said the classes had been a huge success so far, with more than 100 people signing up to perform on the pole, from all manner of backgrounds.

"It's incredible to see the ages of some of the new pupils who sign up," she said. "They range from as young as 16, to 60 years old.

"I'm also surprised by the poor numbers of under-23 year olds who undertake regular exercise, even in something as relevant and as much fun as this."

The classes ran at the Golden Globe Inn.