THREE talented dancers have made through in the regional finals of a national competition.

Poppy Dawson, 13, Martha Smith, 14, and Freya Tidy, 14, all train with Expressions Theatre Arts, based in London Road, Leigh - dedicating up to 16 hours a week.

They entered the TeenStar competition and have made it through to the regional finals. The contest is exclusively for teens and pre-teens.

Poppy’s mum Claire Dawson, of Hampstead Gardens, in Hockley, praised the girls for their hard work.

The 44-year-old said: “They have all danced for a very long time and are really dedicated.

“They dance between eight and 16 hours a week, which is on top of school.

“They have all been quite successful - they have danced at the Royal Albert Hall and Sadlers Wells Theatre in London.

“Poppy has been dancing since she was three-years-old and has been offered summer school scholarships.

“It is all very exciting, and great that the three girls all made it through from the same dance school.”

They will now take part in a live showcase and will perform in front of hundreds of audience members and a professional judging panel as they fight it out to win a place at the National Grand Final.

They will have the chance to win some huge prizes such as recording an album, shooting a music video, scholarships to the Flawless Dance School, and sponsorship deals.

The latter stages of the competition will also provide acts with the opportunity to impress many guests from record labels, agencies and the entertainment industry as well as judges from BBC Introducing, national radio and regional press.