STAFF and pupils from Sheldon School will be waltzing, jiving and strutting their stuff as they take part in their own Strictly Come Dancing competition while trying to raise £5,000 for charity.

The biannual event will be held for the third time at the Chippenham school where seven sixth form couples will go head-to-head against seven school staff couples for the glitter ball trophy.

The event has raised a combined total of £6,000 for Comic Relief and Children in Need over previous years, and hopes are high that ticket sales and a raffle will raise a new record amount in 2017.

“We have lots of Strictly Come Dancing fans and I talked to a few sixth formers to find out if they would be interested in doing it the first year and I was shocked that so many said yes,” said Nicky Butterworth, organiser of the event and teacher at Sheldon School.

“It’s daunting, they get very nervous about it but everyone is in the same position, they have never done anything like this before.

“You see people humming the tunes they are dancing to or counting out their steps in the corridor and we kick it off after Christmas but it takes them weeks of training to get it right.

“It’s all about taking on a challenge and persevering with it.”

All 14 couples will perform a dance, ranging from a waltz, jive, salsa, samba and much more, for one minute and 40 seconds in front of four judges and an audience of hundreds at the school on Hardenhuish Lane, who will then be able to vote for their favourites.

The event will take place on March 24 from 7pm, and tickets are available from the finance office at the school from £7.