TWO young ballroom dancers from Gwent have waltzed their way to the top, after taking first prize at the British Dance Festival 2009.

Twelve year olds Leah-Marie Hill, from Pontywaun, and Jordan Marie Storey, from Pentwynmawr, won the under 14s open category at the competition in Blackpool's Winter Gardens with a performance of the Regis Waltz and Tayside Tango.

Both girls have been dancing since the age of four, and have previously won the Welsh Championships and been named the British Juvenile Classical Sequence Dance Champions. They are now trained by Anne Watkins at Newport's Danceworld and Jackie Morgan in Crumlin.

Leah-Marie’s mum Sharon Reader-Hill said: “The girls were outstanding. It is such an achievement and we are so proud of them.”