Pensioners bored of knitting and bridge have got hooked on a Nintendo Wii games console at their retirement home.

Residents of the Sunrise Home in Birmingham - up to the age of 103 - have become avid video game fans since a chef brought in the console. Barrie Edgar, 88, said  "It's a very pleasant distraction and it's great fun to have electronic gadgets in the home. I didn't know how my daughter's Nintendo games worked before, but we've all really enjoyed playing it and the games are good for you as well."

Jayne Naylor, Sunrise Director, said she cant tear the pensioners away from the Wii, and will be organising leagues so the fun-loving residents can make their games more competitive. She said: "We have lots of activities going on here, but the pensioners are usually gardening, playing bridge or doing the crossword. They don't want to do any of those things now we've got the games console. It's really captured everyone's imagination and bridged the generation gap. Most of the residents are in their 80s and 90s, a couple who play the games are even over 100. It's great because even the residents in wheelchairs who aren't very active can have a go."

I tried the boxing game for five minutes and nearly had a coronary.


Of course there were only so many games they liked...