A GROUP of young Bolton dancers may have been high stepping in the blazing sun - but they had snow and ice on their minds.

Shoppers in Bolton town centre were delighted by performances outside the Market Place by members of the Children's Workshop, which is based at St Joseph's Church, Halliwell.

The 18 girls were dancing to raise money to treat deserving children to a trip to see Santa in Lapland in 2005.

"We took 32 children to Lapland in 2000 and it was a great success," said workshop leader Alison Power.

The dancers raised £189 towards the £18,000 they need to fund the Santa trip.

Some of the 80 members of the workshop, which is for children aged four to 12, have also been raising cash by bag-packing for customers at Safeway in Harwood and Asda in Astley Bridge.

Next March they are hoping to join forces with other dance schools to lay on a spectacular show at the Globe Theatre in Blackpool and add thousands of pounds to their fund.

Any dance schools interested in taking part in the Blackpool show can contact Alison Power on 0795 1190990.