A CHAMPION cheerleading squad from London Colney battled it out against some of the finest dance troupes in the world to clinch third place at an international competition on Saturday.

The Bowmansgreen Belles, all pupils at Bowmansgreen primary school, took on some of the cream of cheerleading squads and emerged victorious from the competition in Coventry.

The troupe, comprising 18 members, danced their socks off in front of some 2,000 spectators to come third in the youth category in a competition contested by 175 squads from across the globe.

The 19-strong squad, which was missing one of its cheerleaders for the competition, had been perfecting its dance routine and chants for about six months ready to blow away judges with its showdown on Saturday.

Speaking after the competition, coach Natalie Smith said: "We were stunned to find that we'd won third place among our division. We had knocked another local squad, the long established Milton Keynes Cheer Academy, out of the top three.

"I'm not sure if the girls or their families were screaming more when it was announced, but we turned a lot of the 2000 heads in the audience with our celebrating.

"By this point, a lot of the girls were half asleep, but soon woke up to collect their massive trophy, which towered above some of our smaller girls, and may not even fit into the little trophy cabinet at school. This means that we're officially the third ranked youth squad in the British Cheerleading Association's entire international league - not bad for a primary school after school club."

Squad leader and year six teacher Kimberley Temple, with the help of former head coach Katie Alman, choreographed the energetic routine for the performance.

The squad was formed at the school, in Telford Road, two years ago by Miss Temple - a former member of the University of Hertfordshire's cheerleading squad, the Sirens.

Ntalie added: "The judges commented repeatedly on how impressed they were with our enthusiasm, energy and innovative routine. Kimberley and I are incredibly proud coaches."