It was Hampshire’s own Strictly Come Dancing - and it raised over £6,400 in cash for two of the county’s most worthy causes.

Nearly 300 of Hampshire’s real estate professionals gathered together for a glitzy night of ballroom, salsa and cha-cha-cha.

The Strictly Southampton Property event - run by the Daily Echo and Southampton Property Association - at top venue Hilton Ageas featured music and dancing with tuxedos and gowns the order of the day.

Eight SPA members trained for 10 weeks with Dizzy Feet dance school to learn the tango and salsa and were judged on merit of their new-found expertise.

Crowned best salsa dancers were Remarkable PR’s Mike Tamlyn and his dance partner Lauren Harley, with Lester Aldridge’s Brooke Manning and her dance partner Ian Pritchard taking the trophy for the tango. 

All runner-up dancers received their own medal just for taking part.
There were professional dance shows from Derek Hartley and Claire Hitchman, as well as a heartwarming performance from Dizzy Feet’s youngest dancers, before judging began with Derek, Heather Parsons from the People’s Strictly and SPA chairwoman Nella Pang giving out the points. 

Homes Under The Hammer star Graham Barton manned a prize auction with all money raised on the night going to Countess Mountbatten Hospice and Wessex Heartbeat and each receiving £3225.71.

Countess Mountbatten’s fundraising manager Pam Bates said the money raised was much needed for day-to-day running of the hospice, which cares for people with life limiting illnesses at the centre on Botley Road and in their homes.

She said: “It was the most incredible evening and they simply must do it again. The money will go towards things like buying heat pads and providing tea and biscuits - we care for 3000 people a year in the hospice and at home.”

With both charities approaching important milestones in 2017 - Countess Mountbatten celebrates 40 years and Wessex Heartbeat 25 - the money will come in very handy indeed.