TWO East Lancashire ice skaters who starred in a pop video with superstar Robbie Williams have been given the chance to train with former world champ Christopher Dean.

Jonathan O'Dougherty and Pam O 'Connor (pictured), who are ranked third in Britain, starred in the acclaimed video for Robbie's chart-topping single She's The One after auditioning for the part in London.

But now they want cash help to help them hit the headlines for more serious reasons -- by travelling to America and training with British skater Christopher Dean, one half of the legendary Torvill and Dean ice dance partnership who struck 1984 Olympic gold in Sarajevo, in the former Yugoslavia.

Jonathan, 22, of Queen's Park Road, Blackburn, said: "Our coach Karen Barber knows Christopher Dean from the days when she competed against him.

"We now have the chance through Karen to go out to Colorado Springs where Christopher now lives so we can train with him. "But we need to raise money first and we are hoping businesses in East Lancashire may be able to help us out with sponsorship."

Pam and Jonathan have already planned to spend time in London training with Jane Torvill.

The former British Junior champions have been skating together for five years and believe the trip to America may give them the final push to make the breakthrough internationally.

In the now famous video, Jonathan plays one of the skaters while Pam is the body double for the other.

When Jonathan hurts his leg, Robbie Williams steps in -- although Jonathon performs all the skating parts in the video.

Jonathan, originally from North Wales, and Pam, from Scotland, moved to Blackburn because of the town's ice skating rink.

Anybody who can help the duo with offers of sponsorship can contact Jonathan on 0411 390078.

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