A HOSPICE worker took to the dancefloor with family and friends to raise more than £1,200 for her employer.

Tracey Powell and husband John paired up with professional dancers from Stardust Dance Academy, which has schools around the Midlands, to raise money for the Donna Louise Children's Hospice.

Each couple was given 12 hours of practice time before heading out in front of judges at a theatre in Cannock earlier this month.

Audience members were charged 50p to vote and the winners were 45-year-old John and academy boss Sam Keay.

But Tracey, a member of the charity's community nursing team, said defeat didn't stop her from enjoying the fund-raiser as a total of £1,240 was generated.

The 43-year-old, who lives at Marston, near Church Eaton, said: "John and I are beginners because we have only been dancing for 11 months but the routines we had were quite advanced.

"It was an awful lot of fun and we raised £220 from votes alone."