A PE teacher is trading in his rugby boots for dancing shoes in an effort to raise money for charity.

Nathan Rushton will team up with his aunt Janet Spencer in this weekend’s Bolton Hospice Strictly Learn to Dance 2018.

The pair have been in training for 13 weeks and will join 19 other dancing couples for the sold out grand finale on Saturday.

The 24-year-old rugby player and coach, who teaches at Wilmslow High School in Manchester, has never danced before but is looking forward to showing off his new skills. He said: “It’s crunch time now. Neither of us have ever danced before but we’re both really looking forward to it.”

He explained that he and Ms Spencer have teamed up in memory of her aunt, who died five years ago from cancer after a stay at the hospice.

The Salford-based telesales representative, aged 40, is continuing her charitable efforts after completing the three-peaks challenge last year.

It will be the sixth time that Bolton Hospice has staged this event and organisers are hoping to raise £35,000 to build on the £130,000 that has been brought in since it began.

Contestants will line up in the Premiere Suite of Bolton’s Whites Hotel at Middlebrook to showcase their social foxtrot, quickstep and one of four specialist dances – salsa, cha-cha, Argentine tango and rock n roll.

A total of 750 tickets have already been sold, with a special panel of judges set to assess contestants, including two dance experts, one hospice trustee and celebrity guests Michaela Wain and Harrison Jones from the last year’s Apprentice.

Maria Passarello, events manager at the hospice, said: “The participants will have a “once in a lifetime” experience in front of 750 guests and their sponsorship will massively boost our fundraising for Bolton Hospice.

“Good luck to all our participants and we are very excited to see who will be crowned Strictly 2018 champions.”

She also thanked A Touch of Class Dance Studio, for helping the contestants to learn over the past 13 weeks, and Bolton FM, who will host the show and provide technical support.

Meet the couples set to take part in The Bolton News tomorrow.