WHILE most people were working or enjoying the start of the summer holidays yesterday, a group of teenagers decided to spend the day doing something completely different by taking part in a dance-a-thon in front of hundreds of shoppers.

Multi-coloured tutus, brightly-coloured tops and some chart-topping tunes from the likes of Beyoncé were all part of the occasion as the students descended on the town centre to dance the day away in The Parade.

And despite them being tired, hungry and hot, the group was fuelled by adrenaline as they moved, grooved and let loose, determined to raise as much as they could for a charity which cares for terminally ill youngsters.

Shoppers were enticed to join them in the mammoth feat which started at 9am and continued for a whopping 12 hours until 9pm.

So as people settled down for the evening before heading to bed, those teenagers, who are part of a National Citizenship Service (NCS) scheme, were still there moving to the music to raise hundreds of pounds for the Rainbow Trust.

“Dancing is something that unites people," said Becky Kerr, 16, who went to Commonweal School and lives in the Railway Village.

"You don’t need to speak the same language to do dance and because we are doing it for a children’s hospice we wanted to do something light-hearted and lift the mood.

“It’s all high energy. Everyone’s really trying and giving it their all.

"We started the morning with £240 in donations and we are hoping to raise £500.”

Becky added: "I’m getting lost in the music, but my knees are starting to ache."

The fundraiser was planned in less than a week and the teens scrambled into action to make sure the event was a recipe for success. This also involved baking cakes and appealing to businesses to make donations.

Those not dancing manned acake stall.

“We are part of National Citizenship Service,” added former Ridgeway student Michelle Bandera, 16, of Wichelstowe.

“We are doing a skill action programme and it’s just something to help the community.

“Also we wanted to support the Rainbow Trust, which is a charity that helps children with terminal illnesses.

“The dancing has been going really well. We’ve had lots of little children joining in. People have been really generous with their donations."

Sheryl Hadgkiss, 17, of Highworth, was one of the dancers and admitted three hours into the dance-a-thon she was beginning to feel the pressure.

“I’m exhausted at the moment and we’ve been trying to get the audience involved and the kids love it," she said.

“I thought the dancing would be embarrassing but I know what the money is going towards and I know I’m doing something good.

“My parents have been supportive and have donated, but they were like ‘How are you going to do it for so long?’”

To donate to the group's feat for the Rainbow Trust go to: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/ncsrainbow