YOUNG dancers from Darwen are back on the road to success thanks to a well supported fund-raising campaign to fix their broken-down double decker bus.

Businesses and individuals rallied round to help Darwen Morris Dancers pay for a replacement engine for the vehicle which is used to take the girls to competitions across the country.

Angela and Paul Lee, of Lee's Cantonese Kitchen in Sudell Road, whose five-year-old daughter Sophie is a member of the troupe, held a raffle in their shop.

It raised £245 and prizes included a session with a Chinese fortune teller and free meals. Other businesses and individuals have also stepped in with help and the appeal total is now more than £1,500.

Toni Dineen of Darwen Morris Dancers said: "We are all really pleased at the response to the appeal. It means we can get to competitions. "We were able to buy an reconditioned engine and get the bus back on the road.

"It is in the garage again at the moment for minor repairs but should be back in action by the weekend."

Coral Patterson, whose daughter is a member of the group, raised about £700 from a recent sponsored swim. Her employers Rentokil have pledged to match the total.

Other donations have come from residents at Pembroke Court, Darwen and most of the pubs in the town.

The Morris dancers have held their own raffle and Border Buses of Burnley have agreed to do the repairs at cost price.

The next fund-raising event is due to take place at Darwen Central Club on Friday, July 21.

Toni added: "We are now concentrating on raising money to cover running costs, paying for a driver to take a PSV test and any other emergency repairs in the future."