DANCERS aged three to 21, from dance schools over a wide area, took part in the Pershore Dance Festival, run by a team of dedicated volunteers at the town's High School.

The event enabled young dancers to perform in a competitive but friendly atmosphere in front of a live audience.

"We believe that the festival helps to promote the arts and can provide a platform for some of these youngsters to perform professionally," said Mary Griffiths, one of the organisers.

"Some of our past competitors now perform with famous dance companies."

The Pershore festival runs every year for a week and, as well as the normal disciplines associated with dance, such as ballet, tap, modern, national and song and dance, there is a bursary award for the most promising dancer.

This year's judge was Tanya Allen, an experienced dancer herself who has travelled the world and now runs her own dance studio with more than 500 pupils.

The festival also stages a Miss Dance of GB heat, a national competition organised by the International Dance Teachers Association, with a grand final in Sheffield and prize money of over £1,700.

Mrs Griffiths said: "We are always looking for support from the local people of Pershore and Evesham, whether it be in monetary terms, volunteering their help or to swell the numbers of the audience.