STRICTLY come dancing came to Portland as schoolchildren waltzed the afternoon away.

Pupils at Grove Infant School put their best feet forward to show parents and grandparents the skills they had learned throughout the year.

Deputy headteacher Jackie Thomas said: “The children love it. They get to dress up in the best dresses and ballroom costumes.

“The boys all wear bow ties and waistcoats – they all looked so smart.”

Pupils treated their audience to quickstep, jive, cha-cha and waltz dances at the YMCA building in Easton.

Mrs Thomas said: “I went on a course and learned a simplified version of each dance to teach the children, but I’m so pleased with the way they’ve picked it up.

“They have been practising their parts and working very hard.

“At the end of the dance, the children got a parent or grandparent to dance the Last Waltz with them – it was just beautiful and probably the nicest part of the whole event.

“It was a traditional tea dance and we even had someone come past and say how nice it was to see. Afterwards we had cakes and drinks.”

Pupils started dancing last year as part of the county’s Active Dorset Sports Partnership and enjoyed it so much that the school will now continue year after year.

Mrs Thomas added: “It was such a success and the pupils did so well that we wanted to repeat it.

“We have decided it’s going to be a regular thing because the children enjoy it so much.

“It’s so nice to see them come on in their dancing too.

“Our year one and two children are now becoming quite accomplished dancers.

“I am hoping some of them will take it up outside of school because it’s beneficial in so many ways.”