AN award-winning dance group are set for more success after opening a new branch in Bury.

Radcliffe-based troupe Freak Dance are expanding their horizons by starting new lessons at The Zone, in Bolton Street, from this month.

After opening another centre in Oldham last year, the group now cater for around 400 children and are hopeful that the Bury sessions will prove a hit with youngsters across the borough.

They are holding an open day at The Zone on February 17 with dancer Josh Wharmby, who has worked with stars such as Taylor Swift, Kylie Minogue, and Rita Ora.

The dance school's owner, Aeron Lloyd-Booth, said: "We had a lot of people from Bury who had heard about us and wanted to come to the classes but it's a long way to travel for a lot of them.

"We are starting some lessons over at The Zone and hopefully, over time, we will be able to set up some new Bury-based teams.

"I started out with Carol Godby, so it's kind of like we are bringing things full circle by setting up at her centre in Bury.

"The open day with Josh Wharmby is going to be great. He has worked with some real stars so hopefully that will encourage people to come along."

A 45-strong team from Freak Dance's Dale Street school travelled to Italy last year to represent England in the International Dance Federation World Championship, and they will be heading to Austria in May to once again compete against the world's top talent.

The group was also named the best school-age club in the borough at last year's Raring2go! Bury Awards.

Aeron, who established Freak Dance in 2010, added: "We have our teams who are ready to go out to Austria in May, and we will be taking about 60 children to that.

"Hopefully we can have more success, but it's hard to predict because we are competing against some fantastic teams from other countries.

"We are representing England and we have to try and get to that standard of performance while still keeping this as a fun hobby.

"It's a different league when you see what the other countries are like. The Hungarian team are like an army, they train six hours a day."