A RECORD-BREAKING £82,472 was raised at this year's Strictly St Rocco's as dancing novices took to the floor last weekend.

The event was won by Joanna Kreisler, owner of Laundry Boutique in Stockton Heath.

She danced the Cha Cha Cha with her partner Alex and raised £6746.

Lisa Jones of Arval claimed second place by dancing the quickstep with Lewis Crowder

The hospice worked with Cadmans Dance Centre again this year and the event, sponsored by Rybrook Jaguar, was held at the Mere Golf Resort and Spa in Knutsford.

Vanessa Storey was the guest speaker on the night, one of the Hospice at Home volunteers. Vanessa spoke about the care both her sister and friend had received at St Rocco’s in an emotional speech.

Judges Victoria Bennet, principal of Cadmans, Ralph Casson, professional dancer and actor, Ian MacKinnon, patron of St Rocco’s and Vicky Hewitt, marketing and database specialist at Rybrook Jaguar had a tough decision on the night with the high-standard of dancing.

Charlotte, events fundraiser at St Rocco's, said: “We’re absolutely over the moon to have raised such an astounding amount at this year’s Strictly St Rocco’s, this will really help us to continue to provide our care and support to all of our patients and their families, as well as the whole Warrington community, when they need us the most.

"We’d like to say a huge thank you to everybody who attended on Sunday and to everybody who donated.

"A special thank you to all of our dancers, and their professionals from the amazing Cadmans dance centre, who have worked so hard and shown so much dedication to their performances over the past few months, without them we wouldn’t have been able to make our seventh year such a successful one, and finally of course a massive congratulations to Joanna on taking home the Glitterball.”