A half-day dance-a-thon will help students to raise money to allow them the chance to compete in a premier dance competition.

Dancers at West Lakes Academy are taking part in a 12 hour dance session to support their 2017 Rock Challenge performance.

On Sunday, January 15, pupils will enjoy a range of dance workshops as well as holding a cake sale and raffle.

They have already raised over £1,110 to go towards the costs after completing a bag pack in Whitehaven's Tesco last month. Students collected donations from members of the public in exchange for helping them pack their shopping.

Last year, students displayed a performance called Sha’ir Badawi, about a group of travellers in a faraway desert.

They won 12 awards including for performance skill, stage use, soundtrack and entertainment. And teacher Deborah Jackson said the team was "extremely proud" of the pupils.

She said: "The performance was flawless; from the dancers to the stage crew, they worked effortlessly together to present a slick and professional piece.

"The feedback we received from the other teams, the crew and general public described a piece that was both entertaining and mature.

"Receiving twelve awards of excellence together with the Spirit of Rock Challenge award voted by the other schools was an outstanding achievement."

Due to its success last year, the team has already qualified for the premier division of the northern final in July. They will showcase their new performance for the first time at the Sands Centre in Carlisle in April.

In 2015, the academy was the only Cumbrian secondary school to qualify for the national final in Milton Keynes, placing the academy among the nine best schools in the UK.

Rock Challenge sees each participating school put together an eight minute dance and drama production on a theme of their choice.