Rippon seeks veteran adventurer

Angela Rippon believes in keeping active and adventurous

Former television newsreader Angela Rippon is launching a campaign to find Britain's most active middle aged adventurer.

The move comes after new research found that the nation's over 50-year-olds are more active than ever.

The study, conducted by Saga Holidays, found nearly three quarters of middle aged people polled, were living life to the full.

As a result the first Saga Endeavour Awards are being launched on Monday.

Keeping active and seeking out new challenges is the key to staying fit, feeling younger and living a longer and more fulfilling life Angela Rippon I needed a challenge

Potential award winners include someone who may have dived around the world or trekked across Nepal for charity.

Contenders may also have taken up a sport later on in life and are now competing at a national level.

New experiences

Ms Rippon, who is a former host of Come Dancing and the Antiques Roadshow, believes that Britain's over 50s are becoming increasingly confident and have more time and money to invest in new experiences.

She added: "Keeping active and seeking out new challenges is the key to staying fit, feeling younger and living a longer and more fulfilling life.

"The Saga Endeavour Awards is a fantastic way to uncover some of Britain's great achievers and adventurers."

Research found that two thirds of the nation's over 50s (66%) feel they are living life to the full compared with 57% of the younger generation.

According to the figures, nearly two thirds of people aged 50 and over (60%) would consider taking extended time out to travel the world while 45% of the nation's over 50s would consider scuba diving and nearly one in five (17%) pot holing.

The awards scheme aims to find 10 regional winners before one national winner is eventually announced in November.