BACK in October 2009, the County Gazette invited readers to 'Meet the WI - but not as you know them'.

Our pictures showed members of the then new Norton Fitzwarren WI Lite at their first official meeting, when they swapped jam and Jerusalem for a lesson in pole dancing.

The new group had initially attracted 30 members after being set up by Emma Jenkins, aged 34.

WI Lite had been running in other areas of the country, but the group was the first of its kind in Somerset.

Emma said: “Most of the members are aged about 25 to 45, but there were a few a bit older than that.

READ MORE: More pictures of WI pole dancing.

“Members want to meet different people and do something different each month.”

On the night, members tried their hand (and feet) at Zumba dancing, after a lesson by experts from Studio 22 and then took a twirl on the pole.

The next meeting was advertised as a ‘know your boobs’ night, featuring bra fitting from Taunton store SiSi and advice from a nurse from Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, on breast cancer awareness.