You might think that board games and bingo would be the order of the day.

Not so at one old people’s home near Paris where interactive video games have become the latest craze.

Twice a week, residents at the Medica France Residence in Bondy forget their age and have a blast at anything from bowling, boxing or tennis.

Supervisor Albane Boin said: ‘‘It was a bit of a challenge, to say, why not? I did not know if it would really take off, but in fact it really works.’‘

Advocates of the approach say it is a real sport that exercises both the body and the mind.

‘‘I feel like I am 18 again, that was when I was at my strongest, and I ate a lot of spinach. Now I have stopped, it is a bit difficult, but I maintain myself anyway. I do as much as I can to have fun,’‘ said one resident.

The console nights have proved so successful that the company which runs the home has announced it is to introduce the video game sessions across its residential network all over France.

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