A falls prevention programme has been a 'revelation' for a Congleton resident.

Pam Dale suffers with Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness.

This, combined with her osteoarthritis and having had multiple joint replacements, means it is a real possibility she could fall.

Thankfully, she discovered One You Cheshire East's Stand Strong programme.

Attending her first class, Pam said: "I couldn't get up off the chair without great deal of scuffling and hanging on and pushing and shoving, trying to get out of the chair.

"Just the simple instruction of how to get out of a chair and how to get back and sit in a chair has made a world of difference."

Stand Strong is One You Cheshire East's free 26-week strength and balance programme designed to help residents move with confidence, reduce their risk of falls and stay independent for longer.

With weekly strength and balance classes, home exercise plans and more, residents can choose to access face to face classes in the community or online.

For Pam, it has made her more conscious about what she does and the things that might be hazards to falling.

Not only this, Pam has also been impressing herself and other members of the class with a balance exercise, tightrope walking.

When Pam was being diagnosed with the PPPD, the neurologist asked her to do this exercise and she fell over, now she can walk the length of the room.

Pam said: "It's really made me much more aware of my own body of how to respect it and how to look after it to make sure I don't fall if at all possible.

"We all have to accept we are ageing; we all age differently but you have to learn to pace yourself and you have to learn to make adjustments to what your body needs you to do to keep you safe.

"It's just a fun, happy place.

"Make that move and come to the class, you will be absolutely surprised at the improvement you can make, and you can incorporate them all at home. You become safer as a result of it."

On her coach, Molly, Pam added: "She is sweet, she is funny, she is very respectful, she does not patronise anybody, she does not make a spectacle of anybody if they don't manage to do the session maybe as well as they will eventually.

"She just keeps a very careful eye on people who are a little bit more vulnerable and keeps them safe."