It was a good weekend for Whitchurch professional dancer AJ Pritchard and his Strictly Come Dancing partner Lauren Steadman, who are through to the highly-anticipated Blackpool stages of the competition.

The 24-year-old, who celebrated his birthday last week, danced the Vienesse Waltz with paralympian Lauren Steadman to Callum Scott and Leona Lewis’ You Are The Reason.

During their training sessions, AJ and Lauren had to take on natural turns, reverse turns, change steps and flec steps, as well as adapting the routine to suit the athlete, who was born with an incomplete right arm.

AJ said on Strictly: “We’ve had to reposition the dance for Lauren, and it’s been strange for me as I am predominately right handed and we’ve had to change how we lift, otherwise it’s too risky for her.”

Lauren said how she had never let her arm stop her, and that she hoped being part of Strictly would show young children, with or without a disability, that nothing should stop them.

The practise paid off, with the pair scoring a total of 34 – their highest score this series.

The judges told the pair that the pair is improving each week, with Darcy Bussell saying that Lauren was turning into ‘a beautiful confident dancer’ and that ‘AJ was really testing her’.

Head judge Shirley Ballas said: “You are really inspiring to all young boys and girls and your are letting them know they can do anything.”

AJ and Lauren were the first couple announced safely through to perform in Blackpool in this weekend’s show.

Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One at 6.45pm on Saturday.