A DANCE school is celebrating its 40th birthday in style.

180 Dance Club in Tyldesley reached the milestone age on Sunday and have pulled its annual Christmas family-friendly show forward to this Saturday with around 360 people in attendance and 25 acts performing on the day.

Nigel Horrocks opened the Elliott Street school at the age of 22 in 1977 and now in the process of retiring.

He will leave the business in the hands of her daughter Joanne Horrocks, 40, and daughter-in-law Donna Wyatt, 41, who have both been involved at the club for 10 years.

Joanne said: "It is great that school has managed to stay open this long and it owes a lot to the work my dad has done over the years.

"We have always managed to keep the standard of our classes strong and that is something we need to carry on doing.

"It is important to keep moving with the times but making sure we do not change too much as we have been so successful with the way we have worked.

"We cater for dancers of all ages with our youngest being two and our oldest in her 80s."

The school recently hosted a black tie and diamonds ball for adults connected at the club with around 100 people in attendance and music provided from soul, rock and funk band Bamboo Fontaine.

Joanne also credits the success of the school to the work they do in the community.

As well as holding classes at the club, its teachers regularly visit schools in the Tyldesley area to provide lessons and regularly hosts competitions for them.

Joanne added: "I have been involved in the club all my live in one way or another and I love it.

"I hope I can work here for many years to come."

For more information about the club visit http://180danceclub.co.uk.