PENSIONERS Eileen Greenhalgh and Alan Hawthornthwaite prove that you are never too old to dance — or find love.

The couple, 82 and 78 respectively, are engaged to be married. But before they discuss any wedding plans they are aiming to dance their way to a top award together.

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It was dancing that brought them together. They met at a class in Horwich and then moved to train at the Touch Of Class studio in Little Lever. There they moved from being partners on the dancefloor to partners in life and are now engaged.

The couple are both widowed and each have grown up children.

Mr Hawthornthwaite, of Lynwood Close, Darwen, said: “A friend introduced the two of us about three years ago and we danced together at a class at Horwich Leisure Centre — but Eileen already attended A Touch Of Class so I joined her.

“We were just dance partners at first but we got engaged about 18 months ago. If you are in love with the person you are dancing with it makes you better on the dancefloor.”

Mrs Greenhalgh, of Blackburn Road, Astley Bridge, said: “We have both been dancing since we were teenagers.

“I like a man who can dance.

“Last year I decided I wanted to go for these dancing medals and we already have achieved the bronze and silver awards with honours.

“Now we are going for gold. It is marked strictly but we believe we can do it.”

The duo will be tested on their skills in four dances — the waltz, the quickstep, the foxtrot and the tango.

The awards are accredited by the International Dance Teachers’ Association. An external examiner will analyse the couple’s steps when they perform at A Touch of Class this month.

Their teacher at the studio, Teresa Croasdale, said: “I’m sure that they will do well and I think the fact they are together can really help.

“Eileen has been coming to my class for about 12 years and Alan joined about three years ago.

“I think we could tell when they got together because it showed in their dancing.”