NEW Army-style fitness sessions are taking place in a Bolton park. Henry Austin went along to sample the tough get-fit regime

AN HOUR of gruelling excercise with a former army physical training instructor . . . I wondered what I had let myself in for.

Meeting Steve Wylde eased my fears, however.

He is a calm, mild mannered man, quite unlike the stereotypical big, brash bully you might expect -- and he quickly set the group who had gathered in Moss Bank Park off on a series of warm-up excercises.

Suddenly it did not seem too bad, running round some cones and a few stretches. But then the real training began.

Paired off, we began to run up to a bench, do 10 press ups and run back, then it was step-ups and half-sits and crouches -- and suddenly it did not seem so easy.

In fact, for someone in my condition -- less than peak, it has to be admitted -- it became very difficult.

But constant encouragement was offered by Steve, who after leaving the First Fusiliers became a personal trainer and has run similar sessions in Manchester parks.

He said: "The main aim is for these sessions to be fun and for people to push themselves to their own limits and get fit whilst having a good time. This is the first scheme that I have run in Bolton and, as the weather gets better, we hope that more people will be motivated to come along and get fit."

The session continued with a jog around the park, followed by further circuit training excercises and more press-ups before "warming down". Having huffed and puffed my way round, I felt good at having made an attempt to complete the session.

Fitness fanatic, Michael McSweeney, aged 30, was also taking part. "It is really good because he makes you push yourself, but at the end you are fitter and that benefits your self esteem a lot," he said.

Anyone who wants to take part in the sessions, which cost £4 each, should meet at the main car park of Moss Bank Park at 11am each Sunday, or ring Steve Wylde on 07790 505 067.