A FOSTER carer and roofer have teamed up to wow the judges and be crowned Strictly for the Lifeboat champions 2018.

Seven couples took to the dance floor at the Strawberry Barn, near Dunbar, over Easter weekend to raise money for the town’s RNLI.

The event has become a popular addition to the fundraising calendar since it was launched in 2016.

Veronica Davies, chairwoman of the Dunbar RNLI fundraising committee, thanked everyone for taking part in the event, which has raised a huge £8,000.

She said: “We had three shows and it was fantastic, absolutely fantastic.

“There has been lots and lots of positive feedback on Facebook, which is great.

“The winners were Annette Newall and Ian Allison.”

Foster carer Annette and roofer – and former lifeboat crew member – Ian wowed the judging panel of Doug Tully, Elizabeth Bolton, Ross Cooper and Fiona Knox, from Dunbar Highland Dancers, who also provided entertainment at the events, to follow in the footsteps of Ross McMullen and Hannah Clark, who won last year, and inaugural winners Lynsey Courtney and Stuart Craig in 2016.

The duo, who knew each other in passing before the event, danced the quickstep to Let’s Face the Music and Dance.

They were joined on the dancefloor by Susan Somerville (kennel owner) and Wesley Bradd (music tutor and youth worker); Fiona White (registrar) and Murray Mackay (checkout operator); Shona Urquhart (civil servant) and Mark Brougham (doctor); Pat O’Donnell (nursing assistant) and Paul Easingwood (electrical engineer); Lyndsey Sproule (office manager) and Kenny Williams (lorry driver); and Rogan Jeffrey (social worker) and Brian Robertson (production coordinator).

Ian, who was part of the town’s RNLI for about a decade, was delighted to win and knew first-hand the importance of raising money for the charity.

He said: “I have been out there with the crew and know what they go through, how hard it is for them and how important it is for any money to be raised.

“To raise money at an event like this was great.”

Performances were held on Friday and Saturday evening, with an extra matinee performance on Saturday.

Mrs Davies said: “We did 250 tickets each night and I think we did about another 120 for the matinee show.

“I could have sold more for the evening shows. People seem to prefer them but the matinee was so people could bring their children along.”

The fundraiser will continue into a fourth year in 2019, with the possibility of a ‘champion of champions’ competition being weighed up.

In the meantime, the lifeboat fundraising committee turns attention to the annual lifeboat fete on July 14.