A TRIO of talented dancers from the Rhythmics Dance School in Reddal Hill Road have struck gold at the European Dance Championships in Blackpool.

The girls tripped the light fantastic in style at the famous Winter Gardens to be crowned champions.

Amelia Hubbard from Colley Gate and Rowley Regis-based Charlotte Gould combined to become the Under-14 rock and roll champions.

And nine-year-old Colley Gate girl Courtney Lines-Glover won the Under-10s freestyle category.

Rhythmics Dance School proprietor Sinead Pearson is a former dance champion herself and represented England when she was 15 at the World Championships in Hungary when she reached the freestyle dance semi-finals back in 1995.

Sinead said: We do lots of competitions throughout the year and have had success in the past . But for Courtney to become champion in only her third competition as a starter was simply quite exceptional!

Proud mum Kelly Glover claimed: "Courtney has been attending the Rhythmics Dance School since she was four years old and she simply lives for dancing.

"She had to be recalled five times by the judges at Blackpool before progressing to the quarter finals and then then semi-finals before doing a solo spot in the final.

"Courtney usually trains three times a week, which includes a private coaching session and has now started taking part in competitions, when she usually comes back with a trophy.

"Amelia lives quite close to us and attended the same school as Courtney which was Cradley C of E Primary School, but she now goes to Windsor while Charlotte goes to St Michaels in Rowley Regis.

"The nice thing about Rhythmics Dance School is the fact it's quite small. It's just like an extended family and everyone supports each other."