A Shipley councillor has vowed to come to the rescue after an appeal in the Telegraph & Argus to help more than 50 children find a new dance studio.

Dozens of aspiring young dancers were left in the lurch after their teacher, Lindsey Garbutt, was given only two days' notice to quit her studios situated above a former nightclub in Briggate, Shipley.

The children were devastated to find their dance hall boarded up and lessons cancelled - less than three weeks before an important competition.

But after an appeal for a new home in the T&A on Thursday, ward councillor Phil Thornton (Lab, Shipley East) has pledged to find the young dancers a new home.

Coun Thornton said: "I was concerned to read about the group's problems, but I've spoken to council officers and I'm convinced we'll be able to find suitable alternative arrangements for them.

"A new dance studio will make such a difference to the youngsters and anything would be better than letting this group fold.

"Groups like this are the base of our communities and I'll make sure the council will do everything possible to secure alternative arrangements for them."

The children's teacher, Lindsey Garbutt said that she had been obliged to leave her previous premises, Elgeez Dance Studio, with only two days' notice.

She had been renting the centre on a week-to-week basis, she explained.

Lindsey added that the timing couldn't have been worse, as 110 of her pupils and their parents were due to set out for the important, four-day East of England championships to be held in Filey.

"I feel as if we're in limbo," she said.

"There's nowhere for us to practice and we desperately need to find somewhere else so we can go through the routines for the championships."

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Lindsey on Bradford 590001.

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