New title for bodybuilder, 73

Albert Parry also won the 1987 north west Britain over-50s title

A 73-year-old grandfather with a physique that would shame many men half his age has lifted another bodybuilding title.

Gym instructor Albert Parry, from north Wales, has become Mr Senior Wales for over-55s, almost 50 years after he appeared in the first Mr Wales competition.

He weighs the same now - 10st 8oz (63.5 kg)- as when he was a finalist at that 1955 inaugural Mr Wales in Rhondda.

As well as working full-time at a fitness club, Mr Parry also works out an extra hour every day.

I've known people who have gone, died, with big bellies who thought they mustn't exercise because they've reached a certain age Albert Parry

He is worried that widespread poor diet and lack of exercise is creating a "national crisis".

But he insists it is never too late to get on the road to healthy living.

Mr Parry, who works full-time at the Coaching Station club in his home town of Mold, picked up the latest of his titles at the Mr Wales final in Cardiff.

He first caught the bodybuilding bug when he saw the its effects in a magazine.

Albert Parry in 1956 shortly after the first Mr Wales

"It was in 1948-49 when I first started - before there were such things as gyms and we'd never heard of proteins," he said.

"I'm such a small chap - 5ft 5in (1.65 m) - and I just to took to it. And I'm still not big by any means."

Older people love the fact he's here, and nobody believes he's the age he is Carolyn Davies-Moore, fitness club

Albert, who has two sons and a daughter - who is also a gym instructor - said he first trained with a friend, Jack Sneed, in his spare room in Buckley.

"It was all a bit primitive and we were pioneers," he explained.

"People used to have to find a shed or garage to train in and I remember Chester Weightlifting Club used to have their HQ at the bottom of an old lady's garden.

"If we wanted to compete we had to go to south Wales where they had their miners' institutes which was a big advantage for them".

Times have changed dramatically and Mr Parry says a huge increase in the number of gyms and millions of people they attract, is a good thing.

'Chips and crisps'

"I'm still training at 73 and I've known people who have gone, died, with big bellies who thought they mustn't exercise because they've reached a certain age," he said.

"I started off a couple in their 70s during the week with light exercises, so it's never too late.

"I look down the high street today and the sight of some men, women and children stuffing themselves with chips and crisps, well it's a national crisis isn't it?"

Carolyn Davies-Moore, the Coaching Station's membership manager, said: "Albert's great, he's funny, quirky and knowledgeable and older people love the fact he's here, and nobody believes he's the age he is and they feel comfortable with him.

"I was watching him doing chin-ups the other day and he is so dedicated and lives by what he preaches."