EXCITED greetings filled the Arnside air this month when over 50s from both sides of the Atlantic met one another for the first time, writes Beth Broomby.

Through taking part in a senior citizen's exchange programme, the US visitors proved that wanderlust is not the exclusive territory of the young.

Californian Evelyn Zivetz, director of the scheme, Seniors Abroad, believes travel opens the door to friendship, cultural understanding, and even a new lease of life.

Mrs Zivetz became interested in maintaining a youthful mind and body while living in Japan with her diplomat husband Hank.

"The exchange is all about learning to stay active in older years.

In Japan it was a very serious question because you become 60 and every other person expects you to sit down and be quiet.

But that is the worst thing that you can do.

We need to keep our minds and bodies moving," she said.

The response to the international programme which she set up in 1984 exclusively for the over 50s was remarkable.

By 1988 Japan, America, New Zealand and Australia had all got in on the action.

This year the exchange programme has come to the UK for the first time, with US guests staying in Arnside.

So far the Lake District has worked its magic on the advance party.

"This is a marvellous, friendly and beautiful area with very special geography," said Mrs Zivetz.

Regional co-ordinators Sheila and Raymond May of Arnside became involved last year when Mrs Zivetz came to the UK to drum up interest.

They organised a meeting and around 20 local people signed up on the spot.

As keen travellers they had previously arranged home-stays for themselves in America, Canada and Australia because conventional tours did not enable them to meet people from other cultures.

Mrs May said: "Our home stays have been so rewarding because they keep you active and we wanted to extend the same welcome to people coming to our country.

If you just sit in an armchair you will age."

And word has filtered through that the American guests are not the sort to spend their lives sitting down.

Mr May said: "The American visitors are very senior and so fit.

One visitor even runs three miles every day."

Mrs Zivetz, nodding in agreement, said: "Self image is the important thing to work on.

Older people should have different expectations of themselves and realise that it is OK to jog three miles a day when you are 80.

This year we have an 82-year-old lady on the exchange who has joined in with everything, even sleeping on a futon in Japan and co-flying a plane with her host family's son.

We are the first generation to live this long and we now need ways of making those later years more interesting."

For details on Seniors Abroad contact Raymond and Sheila May on 01524 761395.