PROUD mum Louise Hall takes her son Ben in her arms and dances around the school playground.

He's the son she nearly didn't have and feared she would lose.

Ben, 8, has a rare heart condition which permeates almost every part of his life.

But now the Tarporley boy's success on the dance floor has earned him a meeting with his Strictly Come Dancing heroes Darren Bennet and Lilia Kopylova. Ben's classmates at The White House School, have all been told how he suffers from hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Last month they raced to alert a teacher when he fell over in the playground, knowing that any bleeding could prove dangerous, although on this occasion it was just a small bump.

Ben's elder brother Sam, 11, is even First Aid trained in the event of an emergency.

But after a traumatic start to his life, friends, family and medical staff have been amazed by the way in which Ben has battled his condition to lead what seems on the surface a normal everyday life.

Next week sees the culmination of a successful first year at Pritchard's Dance Academy in Burleydam, near Nantwich, when Ben meets TV dance stars Darren Bennet and Lilia Kopylova.

They were invited to dance with Ben and other academy pupils next Saturday by the man behind the school, Adrian Pritchard, who used to teach Darren Bennet near Stoke.

They will return on Saturday, May 21, for a fundraising dinner and cabaret in aid of national children's heart charity Little Hearts Matter.

The pair, South American show dance champions and World Professional Rising Star Champions 2003, will be equally impressed by Ben's progress.

He is advised against taking part in any energetic activities for long periods of time and keeps goal when playing football at school.

But mum , Louise, 38, a trustee of Little Hearts Matter, had no hesitation in saying 'yes' when Ben's schoolmate Curtis, nine, son of Adrian Pritchard, asked if his friend could join the dance academy.

Her son has gone from strength to strength, winning a silver medal for his ballroom dancing, scooping bronze for his Latino, being ranked 'Top' for his disco dancing and even trying hip-hop.

Louise said: 'He has been fine. The biggest problem is being outside and getting cold but dance is always warm. It's stop-start and it's a structured activity which gets his circulation going.'

Ben's success has even spurred both Sam and his younger brother, Freddy, five, to join the academy.

He is now looking forward to picking up tips from the stars he admires on TV with Louise planning to spruce him up with a new suit for the occasion.

'I'm really excited but a bit nervous,' he said. 'I'll probably perform the cha-cha with them.'

Curtis, of Burleydam, said: 'He's my friend and we normally do a lot together so I thought it would be fun for Ben. He has done really well.'

Louise, and Ben's father, Duncan, 37, seriously considered terminating her pregnancy when told of their child's condition.

'We had to consider the whole family,' she said. 'But we felt we had to give the baby an opportunity.'

Louise is well aware that he remains at risk.

'He goes for a check-up and scan every six months,' she said. 'Every time there is a possibility they will say his heart is not working which means he could need a transplant.'

For more information about Little Hearts Matter call 0121 455 8982 or visit www.lhm.org.uk.