TWO dancers from Thurrock with Down’s Syndrome have wowed a celebrity judging panel on TV’s Got To Dance.

Thomas Hurley, 20, from Corringham, and David Martin, 21, from Grays, performed with the Dance 21 troupe on the Sky One show.

The 28-strong group were given top marks by Diversity's Ashley Banjo, actor Adam Garcia, and former Pussycat Doll, Kimberly Wyatt.

Thomas’ mother, Theresa Hurley, said that Kimberly was visibly moved by the performance and keen to meet the dancers, who all have the genetic disorder, afterwards.

Mrs Hurley, 51, said: “She came out of the dome after their performance to meet and hug members of the group.

“The judges agreed that they had been moved by the performance and said that it showed the other side of dance and that is all about expression.

“Everybody at Sky treated all of us so well, they even had a psychologist on hand and it was such a brilliant day.”

Dance 21, a Chelmsford based group for young people with Down’s Syndrome and their siblings, was formed 10 years ago by Mary Schultz.

The secondary school teacher wanted to raise the profile of Down's Syndrome in her local community and show just how capable people with the disability are.

Mary's daughter Ellen, who has Down's Syndrome, attended dance classes from the age of five and Dance 21 was born when Mary asked Ellen’s teacher, Jean Hunter, if she would teach a special group of Down's Syndrome children.

Dance 21 has performed at Her Majesty's Theatre in the West End as well as the Sadler's Wells Theatre in London.

They perform at Chelmsford Cathedral every year as well making appearances at lots of other local events throughout the year.

Mrs Hurley said: “We want a lot more people to know that people with Down's Syndrome are capable of doing these things, and we have received loads of letters from people saying that this has really raised the profile of Down's Syndrome.”

The group will find out if they are through to the next stage of the competition on Sky One, available on HD, on Sunday at 6pm.