Peter and Christine Worthington are travelling to the USA to represent England in the Autumn Dance Classic.

The couple, from Walton-le-Dale, are in the top five for amateur ballroom dancing at senior level and hope to make a big impression across the pond.

Roofing contractor Peter and wife Christine, from Bellis Way, have been dancing for 17 years, competing for 11 and they are the current North of England Senior Ballroom champions.

At the forthcoming event, in San Francisco, they will dance the waltz, tango, foxtrot and quickstep against dancers from all over the world.

Peter said: "We've come up through the ranks and been finalists in the British championships for the last eight years.

"This is the first time we've represented England and we're so proud. But we'll be even more proud if we win."

The Autumn Dance Classic is one of the biggest dancing events on the American calendar, attracting competitors from all over the world.

This year's competition will also feature world dancing champions Gherman Mustuc and Iveta Lukosiute performing exhibition dances.

Peter and Christine, who fell in love after meeting at Dancers in Preston, regularly train at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool, and also in Bolton and Liverpool.

Peter said the dancing also improves his fitness for travelling up and down ladders in his day job.

They will also be dancing against their closest rivals, and good friends, Debbie and Gordon Maguire from Manchester.

Peter added: "We're very competitive, but close friends too. We've been neck and neck for years and enjoyed battling against each other. I would love it if we beat them though."

The couple will take part in the competition from October 24-26.

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