HEELS were kicked and sequins were shined as this year’s Weldmar Strictly Ballroom competition took to the stage.

Sixteen committed dancers put on their costumes and make-up and performed the steps that they had mastered over recent weeks in front of a packed house at Freshwater Beach Holiday Park in Burton Bradstock.

An impressive £23,000 was raised at the event, with every penny going straight to the Dorset-based charity Weldmar Hospicecare Trust.

More than 500 people attended event to watch the 16 dancers who paired off into eight couples strut their stuff on the stage.

It brought an end to a four month long training programme for the contestants, which included the Dorset Echo’s very own jiving journalist Alex Peace, Nigel Reed from Weymouth BID and Charlotte Foot from the BBC.

Thousands of votes were cast by the audience for the winner, with Daniel Smy and Sandra Wayman, who performed an American Smooth dance, crowned champions and scooping the coveted glitter ball trophy .

Katie Slade, events fundraiser at Weldmar, said the whole event had been a great success.

She said: “It was a phenomenal evening.

“We had a packed out crowd of more than 500 people rammed into the hall like sardines, we had a fantastic host in Matt Smith and some brilliant judges.”

Katie also paid a special tribute to the dancers, who entertained the crowd with routines such as a Charleston, Rocky Horror time warp jive, the cha cha cha and the tango.

She said: “The dancers danced their hearts out, they were all very nervy but they were incredible, we really had a super bunch this year.

“We said to them that they had to raise £200 for Weldmar to take part in the event and some of them raised up to £2,000 which is great.

“All of them had never danced before, yet in four months they managed to perform in front of 500 people and they should be really proud of themselves.”

“They were ambassadors for the charity last night, and they were brilliant.”

“All round it was a fantastic night, and I can’t thank the dancers and the supporters enough for giving up their time for this evening.”

For more information on Weldmar, visit weld-hospice.org.uk