A NEW Chester dance troupe is seeking support from the community to help fund a £6,000 bus.

Maddell Stars, which holds two classes a week at Holy Trinity Church hall in Blacon, has recently just started out and is looking for help from the community, family, friends and local businesses.

The troupe features children ranging from two years old to adults aged 40, from different walks of life, mainly children from low-income families.

Marie Buckley, who has set up an online fundraising page for Maddell Stars, explained how the group works and why the bus is needed.

She said: "We have children with disabilities who have complex needs but we are a family and we all look after each other.

"Our troupe is ran by two ex-dancers and judges who do this unpaid for their love of dance.

"We see ourselves as a family, where everyone is included and supported. We provide a safe place to be as well as helping the dancers learn life skills such as team building, confidence building, social skills and discipline.

"These will help the children/young adults through all areas in life.

"We travel all over the north west in competitions every week; we even get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dance in the Blackpool Tower ballroom.

"We rely on donations from family and friends to make this possible, but a lot of our children are from low income families so we need to get our own bus as the cost of coaches every week is very expensive; £11 per person, sometimes more.

"In some of our families there are three or more dancers, which is £33 a week just on coach fare – that’s before we get to the competition and there is an entry fee and a dance fee and also food and drink."

Maddell Stars holds practice classes every Wednesday and Friday at the Holy Trinity Church hall in Norris Road from 6-9pm.

People can find out more about helping by emailing Marie at buckleymarie30@gmail.com.