We present the results obtained by analysing the long-slit optical spectra, recently obtained using the 10-m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), of compact stellar clusters in the nearby spiral galaxy M81. The spectroscopic sample includes both the old globular clusters, as well as relatively younger compact clusters, that in some cases show clear signature of the presence of WR stars.

These spectra are used to determine the ages of the clusters and confirm their masses. We also obtain the physical conditions of the ionized gas surrounding the young clusters.

Preliminary results of this study can be found in http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011arXiv1103.5101M