HOW do you keep yourself looking in the flush of youth?Exercise, clean living and a lorra, lorra laughs, according to new university research.And a group of sprightly Suffolk pensioners today backed up the boffins saying that a sense of humour may be the secret key to success to keep the signs of ageing at bay.

HOW do you keep yourself looking in the flush of youth?

Exercise, clean living and a lorra, lorra laughs, according to new university research.

And a group of sprightly Suffolk pensioners today backed up the boffins saying that a sense of humour may be the secret key to success to keep the signs of ageing at bay.

Scientists at Liverpool John Moore's University launched a major study aimed at slowing down the ageing process.

Professor David Goldspink said that someone who is 60 and has led an active life can have a better functioning heart than an inactive 20-year-old.

He added: "If a pensioner is introduced to the right exercise the ageing programme can be slowed down.

"We are not talking about making peoples wrinkles disappear but improving their cardio-vascular system, improving their quality of life, and making sure they are still out and about until an older age.

"It is so important that we get people to be more active and more prudent about their diet."

Stars such as Joan Collins and Harrison Ford and Cilla Black have all managed to retain their looks well beyond their years (despite what cynics say about the benefits of having a good plastic surgeon!)

Troupers like Cliff Richard - the Peter Pan of Pop will be 63 in October – continue to fascinate and inspire to the greying population.

Ipswich women Alice Rudd and her daughter, Vivien Cage, who were both a little coy about their age, said they both admired Cliff for his looks and his energy at his age.

Mrs Rudd said: "I am still pretty lively and I like to go out and about walking and shopping. I eat lots of fruit and vegetables and enjoy getting out in the fresh air as much as possible."

Mrs Cage agreed that being outside was a tonic and said she tried to do her gardening as often as she could.

Retired port manager Norman Hawkes, 87, of Coronation Drive, Felixstowe, said: "All have ever had is plain food, nothing fancy, no special diet, and I have never taken any regular exercise at all, except working on my allotment many years ago – and I have reached 87."

But 75-year-old Robert Barney said: "Age doesn't matter as it creeps up on you elusively. Beauty is only skin deep and you either have it or you don't. Some people can spend years looking for it and will never find it.

"People ruin their health by working too hard when they are younger trying to make money. They then spend the rest of their lives spending their hard earned cash trying to get back into good health."

Mrs Irene Vince agreed with his sentiments. The 89-year-old puts her longevity down to being a dance instructor when she was younger which kept her very fit.

An inspirational song for people of all ages.

Keep Young and Beautiful by Eddie Cantor & Studio Chorus. Written for the film Roman Scandals, 1933. Music by Harry Warren, Lyrics by Al Dubin.

What's cute about a little cutie,

It's her beauty, not brain,

Old father time will never harm you,

If your charm still remains;

After you grow old, baby,

You don't have to be cold baby:

Keep young and beautiful,

It's your duty to be beautiful;

Keep young and beautiful

If you want to be loved.

If your wise, exercise all the fat off,

Take it off, off-a here, off-a there;

When your seen anywhere with your hat off,

Have a marcel wave in your hair;

Take care of all those charms

And you'll always be in someone's arms,

Keep young and beautiful

If you want to be loved.

What makes a girls acquaintance bigger,

It's her figure and her poise.

Her duty should be to retain it,

To maintain it for boys;

Old age isn't real, baby,

Your as old as you feel, baby;