A walking football club in Mansfield is enjoying its first taste of success after winning a tournament.

The Mansfield Senior Reds defeated five teams in the first Nottinghamshire FA Walking Football Festival for the over 50s.

Walking football differs from the usual rules only in that players are not allowed to run, and must walk.

Mansfield Reds was formed in October by three Nottingham Forest fans — Silvano Taylor, secretary Peter Mitchell and chairman Tony Gullett.

The club, which has more than 30 members, is open to those over 55, giving them the chance to play and remain active.

They meet on Thursdays at Mansfield Rugby Club, from 11am to noon. Six-a-side matches are played on a five-a-side pitch and anyone is welcome to join them. Players need to wear trainers.

A spokesman said: “We have steadily grown and the players all say it has given them a new lease of life to still be able to play the game they love.

“They are getting fitter and feel healthier in body and mind.”

In the round-robin tournament in Nottingham, Mansfield Reds defeated Kimberley 5-0 (scorers Mel Pullen 2, Gareth Pratt 2, Geoff West, Southglade 2-1 (Pullen and Pratt), Hucknall 2-1 (Pullen and West) and lost 4-1 to Bramcote (Dave Spellar).

However, after beating Southglade 2-0 in the semi-final, they gained revenge on Bramcote by winning the final 3-0.

The team was Pete Mitchell, Gareth Pratt, Rick Yates, Mel Pullen, Colin Burgess, Dave Speller, Geoff West, Mick Maguire and Silvano Taylor. The top scorer with eight goals was Mel Pullen.