WEST SOMERSET residents turned out in force for the Healthy Living Fair in Minehead this weekend.

Nearly 200 people attended this year’s event at the Beach Hotel which focused on preventative measures to help people stay healthy.

The venue was humming with activity with lots to do and see and a wealth of volunteering opportunities through Engage, Age UK, Magna, CLOWNS, Community Council for Somerset, Minehead Development Trust, Transition Minehead & Alcombe, Forum 21 and Reminiscence Learning.

Cllr Keith Turner, Lead Member for Housing, Health and Wellbeing, said: “Loneliness can be as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, so we wanted to provide local people with information and advice about how they could become more active in their communities."

For people who knew they should be more active, NHS Health Trainers were available to provide advice and help for people to take those first steps to get going.

For those who were more able 1610, Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership, Channel Adventure and Rusty Rackets had plenty of information about existing and new projects where residents could play sport or take part in fitness sessions.