TWO months ago, they were thrown in at the deep end.

The six couples who had signed up to Prospect Hospice’s Strictly-style competition were given just eight weeks to learn how to dance like professionals, choreograph a routine and perform in front of a 200-strong crowd.

Time –and the odds- were against them. But they plodded along despite some disheartening rehearsals, starting over again when they missed a step, never giving up hope it would somehow all come together.

The dreaded competition day finally arrived last Friday but the couples had nothing to worry about as their first Charleston group number went down a storm and their individual salsa, Argentine tango and quickstep routines were welcomed by spectators’ rapturous cheers.

But there could only be one winner and the particularly talented Kerry and Gren Heathcote’s sultry tango routine and spectacular upside-down lift earned them the champions trophy.

“I was shaking like a leaf when the music started but I enjoyed the performance - more than I thought I would,” said Kerry, 39, of Cirencester.

“The crowd behind us was fun. It’s been really nice to do something fun together for a good cause. A big thank you to Noel from Adelta for teaching us.”

Together they raised a remarkable £1,095 for Prospect Hospice.

Gren, 34, added: “I’m really happy about the fact that all these people came to watch us. We’ve enjoyed ourselves. We feel as though we’ve had the real Strictly experience.”

Runners-up Gareth Askins and Phillipa Huxtable’s quickstep number performed to Grease’s iconic You’re the One that I Want also thoroughly impressed the judges.

“I had so much fun and it doesn’t matter that we didn’t come first,” said Gareth, 22, who together with his dance partner collected £550.

“We want to do it again next year. The best part was doing it out there in front of everyone.

Phillipa, 55, added: “We had amazing fun all the way through. We were nervous beforehand but as soon as we got out there we saw how much support we had from the audience.”

Adver features writer Marion Sauvebois and her partner Sean Cameron’s lively salsa performance failed to secure them a place in the top three. But being praised for dancing from head-to-toe and being hugely entertaining by the judges was a reward in itself.

“The first few weeks of rehearsal were really hard,” said Marion, 26.

“It got more and more enjoyable as the weeks went by but we were scared to death about the big performance. My goal was to complete the dance from start to finish without making a mistake – and we did.

“My grandmother was placed in palliative care during rehearsals and it meant even more to me to be able to do this and help support people at the end of their lives.”

Sean and Marion raised £300.

Genevieve Arney, events fundraiser for Prospect Hospice, said: “We were so pleased with all the dancers who took part in our Let’s Dance event.

“They’ve worked so hard over the past eight weeks and it was great to see their hard work pay off on Friday night. It’s too early to say how much the event has raised just yet, but we’re hoping it’s done really well.”