SATURDAY morning shoppers at the Brunel Shopping Centre were treated to an unannounced St Patrick's Day performance.

Dancers from the Farrell School of Irish Dance took part in a flashmob dance routine outside Buzz Gym shortly before midday to get residents in the St Patrick's Day spirit.

Their 15 minute routine featured traditional dances from The Lord of the Dance, as well as the popular Belle of Belfast City.

Instructor Clare Farrell said she was incredibly proud of the dancers and the performance they had put on for the gathered crowd.

She said: "We decided we wanted to do something to mark St Patrick's Day, and with it being a Saturday, everyone is out shopping in the town, so we thought this would be something fun and give the dancers something to look forward to as well.

"It has been absolutely spot-on, the crowd were loving it."

The 25 dancers, who ranged in age from five to 26, had only been working on the routine for around three weeks during their sessions at the Scouts Hut in Taylor Crescent, Stratton St Margaret.

But the flashdance in The Brunel wasn't the end of the routine for the dancers, who packed up their dancing shoes and headed off to put in a performance at Princess Lodge Care Centre in Okus, before taking a well-earned lunchbreak at The Dockle Farmhouse on Bridge End Road.

Later on they will be heading to The Tap & Barrel on Manchester Road, before rounding off the day at the Coleview Centre with a performance alongside Liam O'Leary.

But the string of dances on Saturday was just the warm-up act for three of the school's dancers who will be heading off to The Netherlands next month for the World and International Championships.

Pamela Maher, Leon Westcott and Courtey Kingham will all be heading to Maastricht in the hope of bringing home championship titles for the school.