A team of excited young dancers are looking for help in their bid for glory at the Dance World Cup.

Thirty-one dancers from the Handforth and Prestbury School of Dance - now based in Macclesfield - have been picked to be part of Team England in the competition which features the best dancers from around the world.

Their proud teacher Michele Cheetham said the girls are excited to be picked and to represent Macclesfield on a world stage. One group of girls from the team will dance in a ballet category and there will be two groups performing modern contemporary dances.

But getting to the competition, taking place in Bucharest in June, doesn’t come cheap. There are flights, accommodation and team tracksuits to be paid for, among other things. The school wants all the girls to be able to go, as well as parents and supporters to get behind them in the contest.

So they have begun a busy campaign of fundraising to raise £10,000 to fund the trip, including bag packing, collections and a stall at Treacle Market.

The team is looking for businesses to sponsor them and any other help from the community to donate or help raise funds.

Michele, whose daughter Aimee Ciara, 24, is a performer and teacher at the school, said: “It’s amazing to be picked for Team England.

“I was approached by someone from the team and sent videos of the dancers to the panel.

“The girls are so excited, you should have seen their faces when we got the news.

“It’s amazing to be picked to represent the country and it’s really good for Macclesfield.

“It’s expensive and we’re doing all we can, but would love to hear from anyone who can help.”

Michele started the school at Ford House in Prestbury in 1983 and later opened branches at St Mary’s Church in Handforth and Dean Row Community Centre, Wilmslow.

She converted premises at Dukes Court, Macclesfield, into a new studio and moved the main base there last November. Michele still keeps a branch at Dean Row and in Prestbury.

She teaches ballet, tap, modern, jazz and street dance among the styles.

Dave Jowle, from Bosley, whose daughter Olivia, 12, is on the team, said: “There is so much hard work put in at the school to help all the dancers do well, it teaches them great discipline.

“It would be great if some of the bigger firms in Macclesfield could help out with sponsorship.

“This is a brilliant opportunity for them.”

The Dance World Cup is from Sunday, June 28 to Saturday, July 4.