A STRICTLY Come Dancing-style contest has raised more than £40,000 for Claire House.

It took place at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool and the proceeds will help support seriously and terminally ill children from Wirral and beyond.

The competition was won by yoga instructor Victoria Lewis, owner of Birkenhead-based Revive Hot Yoga and Fitness Studio.

She took to the stage along with seven other amateur dancers and impressed the judges with her jazzy jive.

Partnering with professional dance partner Lewis Crowder, she shimmied her way through the perfect jive to Flip Flop Fly from The Blues Brothers, scoring full marks from the judges and a standing ovation from the 300-strong crowd of the dancers' friends, family and colleagues.

Victoria said afterwards: "The glitz and glamour of the dance floor is a world away from the tranquillity of the yoga studio I'm used to but I loved every minute of it!

"This was all about getting out of my comfort zone and pushing myself to my limits to be able to raise as much money as possible for a wonderful local cause.

"I loved dancing with Lewis and lifting this glitterball trophy is an amazing feeling!"

Emma Wolf, corporate fundraising co-ordinator for Claire House said: "What a wonderful event and a truly worthy winner!

"Victoria and Lewis took everyone’s breath away on the dancefloor and everyone involved in the night worked so hard.

"But through all the sequins and glitter, a truly important message shone through; that we were all there to support families going through the most unimaginable situations.

"The money raised on the night will help us reach out to more families and help us provide the very best care to those we already support".