SHOPPERS were stopped in their tracks when performers from a Radcliffe dance school brought Bury town centre alive with a surprise flash mob.

On Saturday, 29 dancers took members of the public by surprise in St John’s Square on The Rock as they performed three flashmobs to a mix of eight songs.

The performers, aged six to 21, who attend Freak Dance, in Dale Street, captivated onlookers as part of an I Will If You Will event aimed at getting more women and girls involved in sport and exercise.

Studio owner Aeron Lloyd- Booth said: “The flashmob was fantastic because these things really do make people stop and want to know more about what is going on.

"Getting more people involved was our aim, and curiosity pulled in passersby.”

The I Will If You Will event saw women and girls from the borough light up a giant exercise-powered projection across the front of Debenhams, with Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote leading the way.

Bury is a pilot area for the pioneering £2.8 million initiative, funded by Sport England, which is hoped will be used as best practice in other parts of the country.

Freak Dance is holding classes in association with the I Will If You Will campaign.

These include adult fitness classes from 7.15pm until 8pm on Mondays and Thursdays, hiphop dancing on Tuesdays between 7pm and 8pm, pilates sessions on Tuesdays at 11am to noon and piloxing on Wednesdays between 7pm and 8pm.

Aeron added: “We jumped on board with I Will If You Will classes to show them it is not just for young people and adults are welcome too.

“It’s all about subscribing to that I Will If You Will vibe – if you rope someone else in you tend to feel more confident going along.”

For more information go to iwillifyouwill.co.uk or freak-dance.co.uk or call 07814384689.