MSPs have given their backing to a troupe of young dancers who are to battle it out for a £250,000 prize in the live final of a TV talent show.

Glasgow-based group Mini Moves will perform in front of a TV audience of millions on March 17 in the hope of being crowned winners of Sky1's Got to Dance show.

The talented fivesome – Holly McPherson, 10, and 11-year-olds Jay Carr, Cara Paton, Skye Seager and Jo Dempsey – have been highly praised by celebrity judges, including Kimberly Wyatt from American group The Pussycat Dolls, for their style and acrobatic ability.

The girls are now rehearsing up to six nights a week for their last show-stopping performance are rallying support ahead of the final

But the dancers – who all train at Dancepoint Musical Theatre School in Glasgow – have already secured a number of fans at Holyrood after a group of MSPs decided to back their efforts.

Elaine Smith, Labour member for Coatbridge and Chryston and the SNP's Clydebank and Milngavie MSP Gil Paterson both lodged motions in the Scottish Parliament to congratulate the troupe.

A further 30 MSPs supported the motions which recognised all the young dancers' hard work, and the "fantastic work of dance teacher Robert Hamilton".

Mini Moves are the third Dancepoint group to appear on the Got To Dance talent show.

The Box made it to the final three of a previous show and, last year, Fear of the Unknown narrowly missed out on the top spot.

Mini Moves dancer Jay Carr was also part of the Fear of the Unknown troupe.

Her mum Kim Carr, from Riglands Gate in Renfrew, said: "It was fantastic for Mini Moves and Dancepoint to be mentioned in the Scottish Parliament.

"We really appreciate the support from the MSPs as well as friends and family."

linzi.watson@eveningtimes.co.uk