A UNIVERSITY of the Third Age with beginnings in Dursley and Berkeley has gone from strength since its conception.

After the Thornbury branch of the U3A closed its doors to people outside their postcode due to increasing popularity, people in towns in the south of Gloucestershire were keen to establish their own.

After getting their heads together, a launch meeting last September revealed that hundreds of local people were interested. Now a variety of groups are getting together to pick up new skills, including a meeting in Dursley on driving which was held on Thursday, February 19.

The U3A is a national scheme which aims to allow older people to take on challenges they didn't have time for in the past.

It is voluntary and any member can start an interest group, giving people the opportunity to pursue areas of interest and develop a larger social circle.

The U3A which formed in Dursley and the surrounding areas has, since its launch, seen scores of people come forward and offer to take on groups of their own.

Examples of groups which have come out of the U3A include groups dedicated to wine tasting, learning Italian and computing.

Margaret Wozencroft, of Berkeley, has had a great time with U3A having already joined six groups.

She said: “I had a computer for years but it's only since joining the computer group that I’ve started using emails.”

Brendan Skelton, of Dursley, has recently had two of his sculptures chosen for the West of England Academy exhibition. He is going to run an art history group for U3A in Dursley’s new Vibe centre.

“I’m looking forward to extending my own areas of interest and having some fun in the process," he said.

“I look forward to our U3A offering groups with a really rich range of choice for everyone.”

The gathering at Dursley Methodist Church last week saw dozens of people in attendance to refresh their memory of the highway code.

To learn more about the U3A visit www.u3a.org.uk.