A 1990s TV star has helped give care home staff a much needed lift when he paid a visit to Colchester. 

Staff at the Oaks care home were given a shot in the arm when fitness icon from the 90s, Derrick Errol Evans MBE, rocked up to get the carers moving.

Mr Evans, better known as Mr Motivator, rose to fame in the 1990s when he started performing fitness routines on GMTV.

And his glory days were rekindled earlier this month when he put staff through their paces for a two-hour workout.

The Oaks, which is a 61-bed care home, offers nursing care, specialist nursing dementia care, end of life care, and respite and residential care.

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Staff were given a lesson on how to care for themselves earlier this month, as they dressed up in colourful sportswear at the Colchester Community Stadium, where Mr Motivator led them through a range of different classes.

Margaret Brodie, the home’s wellbeing co-ordinator, admitted feeling a little nervous initially.

She said: “It’s given me a lot of confidence to take these activities back into the care home – we’ve learnt so many new ways to bring fun and fitness together for the benefit of our residents.

“It has benefits in both keeping their wrist joints supple and allowing them to be included in the exercise session when they might have thought they wouldn’t have been able to take part.”

Care home manager, Carol Preston, said staff will soon be sharing some of their new moves with care home residents.

She said: “Mr Motivator is very passionate about fitness – there has been so much fun and laughter, but also with a serious message around the importance of continuing to make fitness fun and available for older people.

“We can’t wait to try out our new moves with our residents, we know they are going to love them.”