CLIENTS at Age UK Dorchester were transported to a virtual world as they were given the opportunity to get to grips with cutting edge technology.

The charity's activity centre visitors were able to take trips into space or places they had visited in former years during the virtual reality session.

The virtual reality equipment, an Oculus Rift, belongs to the charity's communication officer Sam Ling and is so new that it has only just become available in the shops.

Sam said: "It's great that our centre users here are getting to see it even before their grandkids.

"It's our clients, who are often missed out by this kind of thing, who are getting almost the first try."

Sam said taking them back to places they loved using virtual images can help stimulate memories and conversations and he felt lucky to be able to share the virtual reality technology with the charity's clients.

He said many of them were going back and telling their families all about the places they had seen and things they had done whilst sitting in an armchair at the day centre.

Sam has run a couple of sessions at Age UK in Bournemouth and Dorchester and says that the general reaction has been extremely positive.

He plans to hold more sessions in the future.

Among those taken with the new technology is 86-year-old Dennis Kenny, who took a trip to the moon while sat on his chair at the Dorchester centre.

He said: "It's indescribable, I can't compare it to anything I've ever seen before.

"You suddenly saw the starts and the rocket going along and it was as though you are right there."

Age UK is always looking out for new activities to introduce to clients and is always keen to welcome more people along to its centre in Prince of Wales Road.

The charity is also indebted to a dedicated band of volunteers to keep it running and any offers of help are always welcome.

To find out more contact Age UK Dorchester on 01305 269444 or visit ageuk.org.uk/dorchester