A STAGE production of the classic eighties dance movie Footloose has raised £500 for Prospect Hospice.

The funds were raised in thanks for the care received by the mum of one of the performing arts school’s students at Tanwood Youth Theatre.

The group encouraged people attending the production to make donations into collection buckets when they performed the much-loved dance tale earlier in the year and exceeded all expectations.

Director and choreographer Pollyann Tanner said: “We were thrilled that people who came to the show really showed their generous side.

“One of the students who starred in our performance of Cats last year lost her mum this year, so the decision to support Prospect Hospice – who cared for her in her final days – was really straightforward for us.

“We have a long history of supporting Prospect Hospice at Tanwood. It has become, over the years, our default charity. We were delighted that people who came to Footloose really got behind our fundraising and we are grateful to them for all that they helped us to raise.”

Genevieve Arney, events and community manager at Prospect Hospice, said: “This is a fantastic donation towards the care that we bring to thousands of local people each year. We would like to thank everyone at Tanwood Youth Theatre and also everyone who went along to the performance and gave so generously. We’re very appreciative of their continued support which over the years has raised over £2,000 for Prospect Hospice, their commitment to us means we are able to help even more people within our local at a time when they need it most.”