TWO young dancers have earned top honours at competition on the international stage.

Lauren Rowlands, aged 19, of Rhyl, and Bethan Burnham, aged 16, of Rhuddlan, took first place in the championship pairs event at the World Freestyle Dance Championships in Blackpool.

Lauren, a former pupil of Rhyl High, was also runner-up in the girls adult street category and Bethan, a former Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan pupil, made it to the final of the youth girls Premiere Championship solo category, dancing her solo spot in front of a panel of judges from Norway, South Africa, Wales, Scotland and England.

The duo have been dancing championship pairs together for the past three years, with the win coming just two weeks before Lauren retires from freestyle dance to further her career at the Italia Conti Performing Arts Academy in London.

Bethan’s mum, Jackie Burnham, said: “This is massive achievement for both girls.

“They competed against hundreds of dancers at this prestigious yearly event. Both mums and schools are extremely proud. It’s just a dream come true.”

The girls are both trained by Jackie Pell and Heather Farrell of Birkenhead-based Starmaker Dance School, which holds weekly classes in Rhyl Leisure Centre.