MORE than 100 retired and semi-retired people who thrive on the education of life gathered last week to mark the group's first birthday.

The Grange-over-Sands and District University of the Third Age, U3A, has attracted 112 members since it was launched in July last year.

The group consists of retired and semi-retired people from Grange, Ulverston, Newby Bridge and Levens who meet at various interest sessions on a weekly or monthly basis.

The various groups range from French and Italian speaking sessions to scrabble and creative writing.

To celebrate the university's first birthday the members gathered at Abbot Hall in Grange last Friday.

Secretary Sue Rhodes said: "It has been a fantastic first year and we have already got 112 members.

We set it up for retired or semi-retired people to meet and share their experiences of life and we do this through a number of different groups.

I had only moved into the village a few months before the group was set up.

Before I joined I was going into town and never seeing anybody that I knew, but now I have got 111 new friends."

For more information about joining the group membership secretary, Frances Lacy, can be contacted on 015395 32002.