MAGGIE Thompson is attempting to light up a Stourbridge park early next month with her laughter yoga Sessions.

The former cycling star will attempt to demonstrate the benefits of laughter in Mary Stevens Park on Sunday May 4 which coincides with World Laughter Day.

She claims: "Laughter is a great stress reliever. It uplifts and can make you feel on top of the world while boosting the immune system."

Maggie, who lives in Wordsley and was national pursuit cycling champion back in the 1970s, has been involved in laughter yoga for the past seven years and is now a qualified teacher.

She previously worked for Age UK Dudley but now concentrates on laughter yoga.

She added: "I still do volunteer work for Age UK. It was while I was at a Leap Over-50 workshop that I came across laughter yoga. It was amazingly uplifting and left me up in the clouds for days afterwards."

Maggie will be holding two laughter yoga sessions at the Norton park, off Stanley Road, at 11am and 2pm, both of which are free to attend.

She is also set to stage another session at Belbroughton Recreation Centre off Hartle Lane on Thursday May 1 at 7pm and at Wordsley Community Centre on Monday May 12, also at 7pm.

More details are on the website www.merriemaggie.co.uk