A DANCE teacher who has seen her former pupils perform in the West End and across the world is planning to relocate her business to the Ribble Valley.

Claire Slater has run her East Lancashire School of Dancing for more than 25 years, but in April she decided to move her business from Colne to Whalley. Now she's waiting for planning permission to convert a food unit currently used to make sausages into a dance studio in the village.

If her application goes ahead she hopes to finish the £10,000 refurbishment by September and then open for the new academic year.

"I have had my dance school for 25 years, but I've decided to relocate as I also teach in Preston," she said. "I have had classes running in Whalley for a few years so I have a small client base already. There's lots of scope and I want to introduce day classes for adults as well," she said.

She plans to create a sprung floor, changing rooms and reception in the unit in The Sidings, Whalley, currently used by Farnsworth's Fresh Foods who are moving to larger premises in the Whalley area. She says she is downsizing to the 1,000sq ft unit but may expand in the future if the business takes off in the Ribble Valley.

Claire, who lives in Calderstones Park, Whalley, teaches a range of classes including ballet, tap and modern dance to toddlers from two-and-a-half upwards. She is currently holding a number of classes at temporary venues in Whalley.

Her former pupils now perform around the world from Hong Kong to America, with others on stage in London including Padiham's Meg Astin-Kilgallon in the current Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical; Katie Allday who starred in We Will Rock You in the West End and Jennifer Stone who performs on Cunard ships.

Claire herself was taught at the Northern Ballet School and then became a Royal Ballet associate before she decided to go into teaching.