DANCING girls from Darlington stunned their older competitors by walking off with first place in a national competition.

Amanda Clixby, ten, and Amy Maxwell, 12, won the pairs competition at the White Rose Association, in Scunthorpe.

The friends first started competing in line dance competitions in 1998 and have won numerous trophies in events up and down the country.

Both have tasted individual success, but their most recent wins have come after they teamed up to come up with a pairs routine.

Amanda's grandmother, Joy Clixby, said yesterday: "Both girls are truly dedicated to the dance.

"If they are not practising or learning new dances for competitions, you will find them doing displays for various old people's homes and charity functions in the Darlington area."

The girls attend the Blues and Greys class, run by Brenda Scott, in Billingham.

She said yesterday: "I thought they might have got placed at Scunthorpe.

"I was overjoyed when they came first, and that's putting it mildly, because they were up against some really strong competition.