Playing bingo regularly can help keep your brain healthy, according to a British study.

University of Southampton researchers analysed the responses of 112 people aged between 18 and 40, and older people aged 60 to 82.

Just half of each age group played bingo.

The study found that bingo players were much quicker and more accurate than non-bingo players in a series of mental tasks. These included memory and mental speed.

And in certain tests, older players outperformed their younger counterparts.

Julie Winstone, University of Southampton: "Bingo is just as valuable an activity to take part in as bridge, or doing puzzles."

Lead researcher Julie Winstone told BBC News Online: "I expected bingo players to be better than non-players at bingo skills.

"But interestingly, younger and older players were able to achieve the same level of performance.

"They didn't decrease in their knowledge or skill at the game, and the effectiveness with which they played did not decrease.

"Bingo is just as valuable an activity to take part in as bridge, or doing puzzles."

She added: "It uses different processes, and it seems that that best thing is to do a range of activities.

"Bingo shouldn't be dismissed, as it has been in the past."

Over 3 million people regularly play bingo in the UK, according to an article on Wikipedia.

Notable high-profile bingo players include US singer Mariah Carey, British television presenter Denise van Outen and 1996 Formula One World Champion Damon Hill.