A former Pan's People dancer is appealing for help to transport 400 Christmas shoeboxes to children in Africa.

Mary Silver, who joined the Top of the Pops dance troupe at the age of 17, has established her own dance group, The Next Step Dance Company, in South Africa, where she moved from Brighton in 2011.

She had visited the continent after discovering she had breast cancer five years ago and fell in love with a village called McGregor.

She said: “I met an English ballerina who introduced me to some amazing kids in the rural townships. These children have nothing but, boy, can they dance. The talent is incredible.”

Mary, who danced professionally on television and in films for 14 years after leaving Pan's People, made the decision to move there for a year to teach the children. Two and a half years later, she is still there and has formed The Next Step Dance Company with eight elite dancers.

“I'm hoping to fundraise for these kids to eventually take professional training in Cape Town,” said Mary, who taught dance in Brighton and Hove for many years. “We recently took part in the Youth Arts Festival in a town called Montagu. The Next Step Dance Company ended up winning the best overall dance for the whole festival. What a proud feeling there was that day.”

Now a friend's daughter, Lauren Gardner, a pupil at Lancing College, is organising 400 shoeboxes as Christmas gifts for children in McGregor – but Mary needs help to transport them from Sussex to South Africa.

Anyone who can help should email Mary at marysilver46@gmail.com