WHEN Strictly Come Dancing star and former football legend John Barnes stepped inside Wirral's Inglewood Manor Hotel for a glitzy photo-shoot, devoted fan Fiona Creed just couldn't resist.

The general manager of the luxury hotel near Ledsham told a delighted John how she had keenly followed his soccer career and his success on the BBC ballroom dancing series.

The star then called on his photographer to record him sweeping Fiona off her feet - literally.

He invited her to accompany him on a quickstep across the reception area of the Edwardian hotel as smiling guests looked on and Fiona was later presented with a photographic memento of her very own Strictly Come Dancing debut.

Then John and members of his extended family posed for photographs in various parts of the 30 bedroom hotel to accompany a major feature on the TV celebrity for Hello Magazine.

"John was a perfect gentleman," said Fiona.

"I was delighted he had chosen our hotel as the location for the photo-shoot. It gave us an opportunity to show off some of the unique features of this wonderful building.

"It was great to see some wonderful pictures of our hotel in a national celebrity magazine but I have to say the highlight of his visit was the opportunity to trip the light fantastic with such a talented dancer."

Despite the fancy footwork that took him to the top in soccer with Liverpool and Newcastle and then onto the hit BBC ballroom dancing show, John and his dance partner Nicole Cutler became the eighth couple to be voted out.

But Fiona added: "John will always be a winner as far as I'm concerned!"