MICHAEL Jackson was in town this week but there was no blood on the dance floor - just the crack of taps on wooden board.

Michael was at the Saddle Inn, Lea, performing with American-style cloggers, the Shredded Feet Appalachian Dancers.

But he didn't come all the way from Never Never Land, he just drove over from his home in Adlington near Chorley!

Michael, who works as an accountant, took up country dancing about 20 years ago but soon extended his repertoire to include morris and sword dancing. He started with the Appalachian troupe just four years ago.

The intrepid toe-tapper admits having a famous namesake has helped further his career: "People looking through lists for bookings get on to my team with invitations more quickly," he said, adding: "The novelty value seems to attract them."

The Shredded Feet are based in Leyland but travel all over to perform. Next week they are heading to France to take part in the Comice Agricole Festival in Azay-le-Rideau.

But wherever they go, they take their own personal dance floor.

Michael's wife Janet explained why: "They dance with taps on their shoes which are quite expensive," she said: "If they dance on a hard floor, the taps wear out, and if they dance on someone's clean polished floor, the floor wears out."

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