Dozens of over 60s attend the monthly dances at Square Chapel Centre for the Arts, Halifax, including their oldest member, 87-year-old Leslie Cole.

But this week they came together for an extra special tea dance to celebrate funding from the National Lottery that pays for the regular class, where they enjoy ballroom and sequence dancing led by teacher Helen O'Hara.

Scores of similar events are being held up and down the UK with the massive balls, each of which has details of a lottery-funded scheme, travelling between projects paid for by lottery cash.

Caroline Wood, from the National Lottery, said since it started 13 years ago the lottery had raised £20 billion for projects.

"It is a huge amount of money – 28p in every £1 played on the lottery goes to things like this tea dance.

"A lot of the projects are very high profile but others, like this, aren't as well known so we want to show people where their money is going and also encourage other groups to apply for funding."

Other locations in Yorkshire which have received cash include the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, near Wakefield, the Deep in Hull and Beverley War Memorial Hall.

Dot Clayton, Joan Tiplady and Anne Powell go to the dancing sessions every month.

As well as providing exercise, the class allowed them to socialise, they said. Mrs Clayton said: "We are all one big family."

Mrs Powell added: "It lets us meet up with old friends and make new friends.

"People come from all over the area to the tea dances."

While singing the praises of the dance classes, the women had just one complaint – they need more male partners.

The dances are usually held on the last Monday of every month from 1.30pm to 4pm.

For more information call Square Chapel on 01422 353073.