A CHRISTMAS dance concert and a wintry sponsored walk have raised £2158 for the charity Little Hearts Matter.

The money was raised by members of Lowri Jones School of Dance. The charity is close to Lowri's heart; her cousin Nia Williams died of hypoplastic left heart syndrome aged four.

This year Nia would have been 18 and Lowri wanted to mark her special birthday in a special way.

The concert in Letterston Memorial Hall was a huge success, with 71 children, taking part. The sponsored walk from the Ocean Lab around the marine walk was equally well-attended. Between them both events raised £2158 for the charity.

In March this year 17-year-old Lowri became Britain's youngest UKA dance instructor. The teenager has taken place in dance competitions all over the UK and has volunteered in local primary schools since the age of 12, taking children through to compete in eisteddfods.

Lowri has set up her own dance school and currently has 81 children on its books who all train every week.

The dance school competes in local dance competitions. The last competition was attended by 20 dancers who came back with 25 trophies between them.

The dance school also put on displays at Fishguard, Letterston and St Davids carnivals this summer.

Lowri's parents, Steven and Julie Jones are very proud of Lowri's achievements.

"For Lowri, to be determined to set up her own business and have the success that she has had within nine months of opening is incredible," they said.

"We never thought that taking Lowri to her first dance lesson at four years of age would lead to this passion within her to give children the opportunity to try something different. The confidence seen in these children when they are dancing for fun is amazing."