MORE than 250 guests enjoyed a fab-u-lous evening of Strictly Come Dancing fun with a special glitter ball event on Friday all in aid of Willowbrook Hospice.

The event raised £10,000 for the charity by getting eight amateur dancers to take to the floor alongside professional dancers from the Silhouette Dance Club.

It was hosted by Radio City’s breakfast show presenter, Leanne Campbell, and included a three course meal for guests at The Venue in Huyton.

All the dancers taking part achieved high scores but it was Willowbrook senior staff nurse, Neil Sutcliffe and his professional partner Tina Thomas, who secured four 10s for their a-maz-zing American Smooth to ‘Singing in the Rain’.

The pair were crowned Strictly Glitter Ball 2018 champions and picked up the coveted glitterball trophy after coming out on top with the judges.

A special mini glitterball was also awarded to hospice supporter, Michelle Mutch after a guest vote crowned her and professional partner, James ‘The People’s Champions’ following their spectacular Samba.

Michelle, 50, from Eccleston, dedicated her Strictly experience to her father Ted Glover who was cared for at the Eccleston park hospice and her mum Evelyn.

Diane Swann, senior fundraiser at Willowbrook, said: "All the dancers were fantastic and on behalf of Willowbrook, I’d like to congratulate them for their commitment and dedication to learning to dance and to supporting the hospice in such an amazing way.

"I’d also like to thank our expert panel of judges and Marie Smith and all the professional dancers from the Silhouette Dance Club.

"The audience was incredibly generous and it is wonderful that the event managed to raise over £10, 000 – every penny of which will enable us continue to care and support our patients and their families across St Helens and Knowsley.”