SLAM dunking is not just for the young and tall now a new walking basketball club is recruiting new members in Royal Wootton Bassett.

The group meets every Sunday between 11am and noon at the Lime Kiln Leisure Centre.

And members can leap, shoot, bounce and score their way around the courts just like their full-speed counterparts.

But they face severe penalties if they are caught doing anything other than walking their way around the game.

Terry Sell, of Lyneham, decided to start a walking basketball group in the town after hearing on the news about its benefits, particularly for older people.

“I started thinking about it after seeing it on the BBC news some time ago, and I thought this was something quite good," said the 61-year-old.

"But I knew the problem was finding a good coach.”

“The coach needs to be properly qualified to take the classes, and now we have a coach we’re hoping it will become quite a big thing.

“It’s particularly good for people my age who might need to get out and about and a bit more active but don’t want to just go walking.

“This is fun and it’s also a great way for people to meet each other and there’s a great social element to it as well.

“Some weeks we can have up to 15 people come along, which is great.”

Terry hopes that the sport will gain more and more popularity, and eventually teams will develop in Swindon and across Wiltshire before forming a competitive league.

“People really enjoy it,” he said.

“I used to play rugby but now I am a bit older I can’t do that any more, but I still want to do something.

“I am hoping that it will take off and there will be groups build up and we can form a league and compete.

“I know the first one was in Guildford and there isn’t many around but it is taking off.”

The group, strictly for those aged 50 and over, is entirely self-funded, and it costs each player £3.50 a session to take part or pay for the coach and the hire of facilities.

Terry said: “Lime Kiln Leisure Centre have just been fantastic.

"They’ve just been so supportive. The hall is always ready for us and so is all the equipment.

“The coach is brilliant too. He is quite a young coach but he is very good.”

Visit www.royalwoottonbassett.gov.uk/2014/11/walking-basketball-programme-at-lime-kiln-leisure-centre.