WINCHESTER students hit the dance floor to raise £1000 for youth counselling services.

Dancers from Peter Symonds College handed over a cheque to Winchester Youth Counselling after performing at the Winchester Marathon and holding a charity night.

The Symonds students, who recently took part in the Be Your Best Rock Challenge competition and came fourth in their Southampton heat, started raising money for the charity after learning about the work they do.

Sam Jones, activities co-ordinator said: “The students chose ‘teen anxiety’ as the theme for Rock Challenge this year, as it’s an issue many of them have been touched by in some way. After hearing about the charity Winchester Youth Counselling, the students were keen to support an organisation which helps those of a similar age with problems many of them can relate with.”

The dancers raised the funds by marshalling and performing at the Winchester Marathon last September.

Spurred on by their fundraising success at the event, they then decided to hold a Charity Dance Night this year, which was a huge hit.

Sam added: “The Rock Challenge team have done a fantastic job and we hope the £1,000 helps the charity assist more teens who are suffering with anxiety. We hope our performance helped raise awareness of this current national problem.”

The dancers have now entered into a competition called Dance: Make Your Move, which is for young people aged four to 18 years old.

They are competing at the Michael Croft Theatre in London on April 29.