DANCE partners Samantha Smith and James Blatchly are stepping out on a ballroom adventure - they will compete in the famed British championships to be held in Blackpool later this year.

Samantha, aged 8, daughter of David and Pam Smith, of Stroat, and James, aged 9, daughter of Laurence and Sharon Blatchly, of Sedbury, have really hit it off on the dance floor.

Their six week partnership has proved outstanding and in an open junior championship event held at Monmouth Leisure Centre at the weekend they scooped a second and two fifth places dancing the valetta and Boston two step

Now they will be working really hard to perfect an outstanding performance in time for a date at the national championships in Blackpool.

"The Monmouth event was their very first and despite their nerves they did extremely well. Now they have broken the ice they will have much more confidence," said Samantha's mum, Pam.

Another local partnership also did well at Monmouth. Emma Blatchly, 14, and Lauren Bolton, 12, won two thirds, a fourth and a fifth in ballroom events and were highly praised.

All the team train and dance at the Laurence and Sharon Blatchly School of Dancing.