THEY are best friends and also disco-dancing world champions.

Proud trio Amy Walker, nine, Sophie Dickson, nine, both from Marske and Aimi Birkbeck, eight, of Redcar have been taking their trophies to school each day since they won them on Sunday.

And even their dance instructor, Vicky Cook, couldn't hold back the tears when her young protgs won the prestigious trophy in Birmingham.

She said: "I cried and I never, ever cry at these competitions. But I've had Sophie coming here since she was four and the others for more than a year and I couldn't help it. Their parents were so proud and the girls were squealing and jumping about when they won."

The girls did not have a set routine but instead had to adapt their dancing to the sound of the music.

The trio, who attend the Dance Magic Studio near The Zetland Lifeboat Museum off Redcar High Street, have never won a major trophy before. They beat off competition from 12 other trios from across Britain to win the title.