The competition was fierce as more than 200 children fought for the top spot at a performing arts festival.

Parents, teachers and friends packed out Roedean School in Roedean Way, Brighton, during the weekend for the Springboard Festival's dance competitions.

Springboard chairwoman Penny Charteris, who has been involved with the festival since 1972, said the dance section of the festival was always fun.

She said: "The atmosphere during the weekend has been tremendous. We've had parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents watching. The place has been absolutely buzzing.

"The standard of entries has been as high as ever.

"The performances are always very good because there are so many excellent dance schools in Brighton and Hove and the rest of Sussex.

"It is really the only opportunity for most children to perform what they have learnt individually and be guided by judges who have worked in the performing arts.

"Performing in front of an audience really helps them build up their confidence."

Dance adjudicator Erica Jeans said: "I took part in the festival when I was three years old so I know what it's like to be on the stage as a child.

"I've been through the whole theatre world and it's a delight to be back at the Springboard.

"It's always been a difficult festival to compete in and the standard is as high as ever.

"The festival gives the children a chance to put the technique they have learnt into practice on stage.

"It's not like a competition. They are on the stage with strong lighting and an audience.

"I really like to watch them enjoy that for the first time."

Rachel Kerridge, a teacher at the Jean Butterworth School of Dancing, in Worthing, was at Saturday's competition with about 20 children.

She said: "It's a wonderful competition and it means a lot to the children."

Sarah Page, of Beechcroft Place, Lancing, watched her daughter Holly compete in her first solo ballet competition and said she had been delighted to take first prize in the class for children aged seven and under.

She said: "I'm so proud of her. She's been practising for months and worked very hard.

"She loved winning and she was with her friends from the Jean Butterworth who kept winning things too, so they were all very excited.

"She's already signed up to take part in the Worthing Festival later this year and she might be in the Springboard again next year.

"It's good for children's self-esteem to take part in competitions like this."

Kerry Cawley, of Goring Road, Goring, cheered her daughter Hannah on as she took top place in the national solo and Greek or natural movement for seven-year-olds.

She said: "She was so excited to win and the day was a lot of fun. I don't know if she will want to be a dancer when she grows up. It's too early for that but for now she loves it."

The festival takes entrants from Brighton and Hove, Haywards Heath, Shoreham, Worthing and elsewhere in Sussex, and has sections for different performing arts.

Music recitals, including piano, strings and wind instruments, have already been held at the Old Market in Hove.

There are also sections for musical theatre, speech and drama.

The festival comes to a close with a dance competition at the Brighton Dome next Monday.