A children’s dance group held a charity fete in aid of one of their mothers who has terminal cancer.

Dance Express, Gants Hill, organised Christmas activities, DJs and stalls at St George’s Church, Woodford Avenue, to raise money for the family struggling with the disease.

Lucy Shwartz, 22, an ex-student who helped organise the day earlier this month, said more than 100 people turned up and they managed to raise £1,200 which was far more than the ill mother had expected.

Lucy said: “She was over the moon and she was blown away.

“It was a lovely day with a great atmosphere.”

The family used some of the money to take a weekend trip away to recuperate and spend some family time together.