A DARE DEVIL Hampshire grandmother has embarked on an extreme-sports "extravaganza".

Maureen Mew from Chandler's Ford decided to take up BMX biking just before her 70th Birthday.

After taking her 12-year-old grandson, Rufus to practice sessions at Knightwood BMX club for the last two years she thought she would give the sport a go.

To get a feel for it Maureen did several "BMXercise" sessions with her friend Julie Bancroft, 48, which are open just for women aged 16-years-old and older.

Celebrating her 70th birthday on April 15, she treated herself to her very own bike and joined her grandson's riding club.

The grandmother of four has now earned herself the nickname of "Nanny Mo" from children at Knightwood BMX club.

Nanny Mo said: "I thought why not get involved. At first, I was not convinced I could do it. I went to some coaching sessions and I loved it. I plan to take part in club races eventually. I was a bit scared at first but now I have mastered the track. My husband was worried that I would hurt myself, but I wear a helmet and body armour. I look like a ninja turtle.

My grandson thinks it's great and tries to coach me. The other kids at the club think it's wonderful that I do BMXing. I don't think they care about my age and just see me as part of the group."

Nanny Mo's daughter, Paula Strickland, said: "She is superhuman and amazing, she runs 10km a few days a week."

Alongside extreme sports, Mo volunteers at Chandler's Ford Infants School, Merdon Junior school and helps to run the Sunday school at St Marys Church in Swaythling. As well as volunteering at Southampton Air Cadets she caddies for her husband, Allen.

She is also grandmother to Polly, 13, who she does 50-mile bike rides with, Stan 9 and Freddie 7.

Knightwood BMX in Chandler's Ford boasts a purpose-built £100,000 with more than 100 members, it runs coaching sessions every Saturday morning from10am to 1pm. There is also a mid-week practice session every Thursday evening from 5.30pm to 7.30pm up until October.

The club caters for all ages and abilities and has two fully insured, licensed and qualified coaches working alongside a proactive committee headed up by an ex European BMX Champion.

Each session is £3 for non-members and £2 for members.