A GROUP of adult tap dancers has dedicated a competition victory to a friend who died in January.Glenys Wyatt, 58, lost her fight against cancer earlier this year and had been a keen member of Happy Feet Dance School.

A GROUP of adult tap dancers has dedicated a competition victory to a friend who died in January.

Glenys Wyatt, 58, lost her fight against cancer earlier this year and had been a keen member of Happy Feet Dance School.

A team of 11 female dancers, aged between 35 and 69, entered the Bury St Edmunds Dance Festival for the first time.

It was an impressive debut as they performed a comedy stripping routine to "Hot Stuff" and were awarded first place. They also won a trophy for being the most entertaining performance in the gala.

After their victory, dance teacher Mari Green revealed the ladies wanted to win for their friend.

She said: "Glenys was a brave soul and the dancing kept her going. The ladies felt Glenys was with them and that it was one of her dances.

"She was a jolly, happy, kind lady who loved her dancing and was buried with her tap shoes."

One of the dancers, Maggie Butler, wore Glenys' original costume for "good luck".

Another group of seven dancers from the school performed an energetic "Time Warp" and finished in third place.

Mari Green said the results were a good reward for the effort the women have put in.

She said: "Both groups had been working very hard and richly deserve their success, they are of course thrilled.

"They are now working towards dance medals in November and appearing at various fetes and parties in the area."

Classes in tap for adult beginners are held at Hillside Community Centre, Stowmarket on Wednesdays from 8 to 9pm. For more details contact Mari Green on 01449 781909 or click on to their website, www.happyfeetdance.co.uk.