For most women, retirement is a time for relaxing and taking it easy. But for Margaret Collins, the golden years are the prime time for partying, pole dancing and serial dating.

The 71-year-old is a virtuoso at online dating and says she has hordes of younger men clamouring to take her out.

What's more, the platinum blonde pensioner - who has been on over 200 dates - says that dating younger men keeps her youthful.

Virtuoso: Margaret Collins, 71, has been on more than 200 online dates in just three years

Mrs Collins, a great grandmother, lives in an older person’s housing complex in Newcastle, but spends her retirement living it up the city’s notorious Bigg Market.

As well as hitting the town, Mrs Collins is a regular on the dating scene and has been whisked away on exotic foreign holidays by admirers she has met online.

'Men my own age are stiff and boring,' she explains. 'I like to enjoy myself and have a dance. I love clubbing with my daughter Mandy and and we both get a lot of attention from young men when we’re out.

'I’m a firm believer that life begins at 70. I’ve never felt more carefree and desirable and I’m determined to spend my retirement having fun.'

Twice-married Mrs Collins, originally from East London, had her first daughter Karen, 49, when she was 21, followed by Mandy, now 47, and Joanna, now 41.

She married her first husband when she was 20 and spent the next 20 years raising her children whilst working part-time.

Looking good: Mrs Collins has been accused of having surgery but says she is '100 per cent natural'

Partner in crime: Mrs Collins pictured with her daughter Mandy, 47, who accompanies her mother on nights out

Margaret, who also raised her granddaughter Morggen, now 30, started up her own marketing business and worked as an MD for 21 years until she was 68.

It was only after splitting up with her second husband aged 54 that she threw caution to the wind and joined a singles club, although she was initially terrified of dating.

Four years later she set up an online dating profile and was immediately inundated with messages from younger men all eager to take her out.

'I have profiles on Plenty of Fish and Match.com,' says Mrs Collins. 'Some weeks I can get over 100 messages and I could have a date every night if I wanted to.

'Men just seem to fall at my feet, I’ve had marriage proposals and all sorts but I’m enjoying playing the field at the moment.'

Despite being inundated with offers, Mrs Collins is choosy about who she allows to take her out, tending to favour businessmen who can show her the high life.

'There’s always a lot of guys on internet dating that contact me,' she says. 'Most of them are nice guys but you do get some nasty ones. I despise beer bellies, tattoos, earrings and white trainers.

Dressing up: Mrs Collins says she made a vow to herself to enjoy life after getting divorced for a second time

'I like men who can match my confidence and hold their own in a conversation with me - I can get bored of guys very easily.'

And the glamorous gran’s escapades even take her overseas, with suitors whisking her off on exotic holidays all over the world.

'I went to Portugal on an internet date out to a man’s house there,' explains Mrs Collins. 'I went to Abu Dhabi with a guy I met on an internet dating site.

'He booked my flight and had a chauffeur to pick me up and drive me about.'

Mrs Collins, who has five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, added: 'It doesn’t faze me when men pick up the bill because if I wanted to I could do all of those things for myself.

'I was with a man for two years and he put me up in a suite in the Savoy and took me on shopping sprees in Harrods.

'If someone doesn’t treat me nicely then I won’t waste my time on them.'

No hurry: Mrs Collins says she hopes to meet the right man and will settle down 'one day'

As well as luxury holidays, Mrs Collins has been lavished with gifts from her many admirers, including a pearl necklace, a diamond ring, designer dresses and bouquets of flowers.

And when she isn’t being romanced, she enjoys painting the town red with her daughter Mandy.

Mrs Collins says her three daughters have grown used to their mother's wild ways and tend not to interfere in her adventurous love life.

'They think as long as I’m safe that they’re not really bothered,' she says. 'They’re happy that I’m enjoying my retirement and not sitting at home alone like a lot of people my age.

'My daughter Mandy did accuse me of being a mercenary because I dump a lot of men but that’s just ridiculous.'

When she isn’t partying or being wined and dined, active Mrs Collins enjoys tai chi, kayaking, shopping and staying fit.

'People always ask me if I’ve had surgery but I’m 100 per cent natural,' she says. 'I’m lucky to have good genes and staying active and dating keeps me looking young.'

But despite enjoying her freedom and the excitement of the dating scene, Mrs Collins admits that she is an old romantic at heart.