LOOKING for a new hobby? How about chess?

Shanklin Chess Club meets every Tuesday afternoon from 2pm, and the first Saturday of the month from 10am to 2pm, at the Age Concern Community Centre on Regent Street.

Now, thanks to WightAID funding, there are free sessions on Saturdays for over 50s who wish to learn how to play.

Shanklin Chess Club will be offering a series of one-hour lessons on subsequent Saturday mornings, given by a qualified chess tutor.

It is part of the Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC) charity, which extols the benefits of playing chess for all age groups.

It reports a positive link between playing chess and academic attainment in the young, and also outlines how it may help fight the onset of dementia in older people.

In December, the club held its first Christmas chess competition, which doubled as a fundraiser for the centre.

The event was sponsored by local estate agent, Arthur Wheeler.

The winner was Carl Sheeran, with Richard Barnes taking second place and Philip Kennerly taking third.

For more information, email shanklinchess@btinternet.com