A TEAM of young dancers have are leaping for joy after securing their place at a prestigious international competition, after callous thieves left their dream of competing on the world stage in tatters.

In January, burglars stole thousands of pounds from Freak Dance’s studios in Dale Street, threatening their chances of funding a trip to the International Dance Federation World Championship this month.

But, thanks to the support of generous local residents, the dedicated group have managed to raise the £20,000 they needed to fulfil their ambitions.

The 45-strong team will now travel to Italy for the tournament – known as the ‘dance Olympics’ – on May 27, to compete against some of the world’s top talent.

The news came as a huge relief to the dance school’s owner, Aeron Lloyd-Booth, after a challenging few months scrambling to raise the necessary funds.

He said: “At the time when I walked up the stairs to see the windows smashed and I realised what had happened it was just awful.

“Everyone connected with Freak Dance was completely gutted.

“We were just trying to do something nice for the kids so they could do themselves proud.

“The thought that it could be ruined just like that was awful.

“It was a very hard time for all of us and every time someone walked through the door, all I could think about was whether it could have been them who stole the money, but you have to move past these things.

“We have been overwhelmed by the response from so many people – a lot of whom didn’t even know us – with the money they have raised.”

The Radcliffe Times reported that thieves had taken £3,000 worth of the youngsters’ registration fees for the competition, after smashing a back window and removing bricks and metal bars to break into the studio.

They then cut the wires to turn off the alarm and CCTV before making off with the cash, which was in three folders in a locked cupboard, and also two laptops.

Freak Dance started fundraising to cover air fares and hotel costs with a bag pack on Christmas Eve, and have since organised a Take That tribute night at Radcliffe Civic Suite and a Peel Tower abseiling event.

A webpage set up to raise money after the break-in was shared almost 900 times on social media and raised around £1,400 for the cause.

And with the funding target now met, the team can look forward to the four-day tournament, where they will compete in categories including hip hop, street dance, and ballet.

Aeron, who established Freak Dance in 2010, added: “It was during one of our shows that I decided to tell the kids we would have enough money to go.

“They all cheered and there were a few tears as well, especially from the parents.

“We’ve had a load of new tracksuits made for the competition and to see the whole team wearing them so proudly is just brilliant.”