MORE than 400 dancers from across the country turned out for an Irish dance festival in Blackburn.

The event, put on by the Herring-Clarke Blackburn Class of Irish Dancing, was held at Shadsworth Leisure Centre, Shadsworth Road on Saturday.

Phil Keigher, administrator for the class, said the event went without a hitch and all the dancers seemed to have a good time, with the Blackburn class winning several awards.

She said: "Our visitors enjoyed their stay and enjoyed the facilities at Shadsworth Leisure Centre.

"We turned the leisure centre in to a dancing arena with specialist boarding on the floor to protect the hall and so that the dancers wouldn't slip."

Mrs Keigher thanked all the parents of the 70 children in the class for their help and support in running the event.

She said: "It's easy to organise something like that but without support you can't put it on."