We had a ball….and raised thousands of pounds for charity

They danced and they laughed for CRY at a salsa extravaganza.

Organiser Julie Hatton of Grangetown was determined the rhythm was gonna them at Redcar Bowl during a day of salsa dancing for Cardiac Risk in the Young.

Julie's son Leon died from a hidden heart defect in July 1999, aged just four.

Since then, Julie has vowed to help the charity as much as she can.

Thanks to her new love of salsa dancing, Saturday's "Salsa By The Sea" workshop and evening ball means CRY will be just over £2,000 better off. And when you add the £2,000 Julie won for CRY in a Premier League competition, it's been a £4,000 bonanza for the cause.

Julie, 38, who is now embarking on a new life in the Isle of Wight with fiancé Terrell Savage, said: "It was great fun. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

"About a month ago, I had a little panic because I'd only sold 15 tickets. But I said my prayers and, after that, there was interest every day. I knew then it was going to be a good day and that's how it proved. Leon would have loved it. I think he would have been proud."

The proceeds will go towards a CRY screening session for young people.