Fitness trainer wins age row case

Celia Powis said she was delighted with the decision

A 70-year-old fitness instructor who was told she was too old to take classes has been reinstated.

Council officials have agreed to allow Celia Powis to continue in her role at Worthing Leisure Centre in West Sussex.

A Worthing Borough Council spokeswoman had said employment law allowed it to require workers to retire at their normal retirement age.

Mrs Powis said: "It's a marvellous result. I'm just going back to normal again, which was all I ever wanted."

It is a victory for what should have been right and fair Celia Powis

The council had decided not to renew Mrs Powis's contract to teach pop mobility - intensive workouts to music - last month.

The law allows employers to force people to retire at or after the age of 65, but employees are allowed to argue their case to stay on.

"I hope that once I go back, all the problems will have been ironed out," she said.

"I wasn't fighting the council, who gave me a very fair hearing, but I was merely fighting for my employment rights. It is a victory for what should have been right and fair. I'm just delighted."

'Aim to be fair'

Mrs Powis also runs five private fitness sessions a week.

Tim Everett, the council's director of services, said: "As a council we aim to be fair with all our staff. Indeed Celia isn't our oldest employee.

"But we do have to have regard to the policies in place regarding employing people beyond the normal retirement age at 65."

A spokeswoman for the council said: "Under the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, employers are entitled to require their employees to retire at their normal retirement age.

"Under these regulations when an employee is notified of their impending retirement, they are entitled to ask for an extension of their contract which the employer is obliged to consider."