Hundreds of youngsters from across the capital rocked the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park yesterday with a keenly-contested schools dance competition.

More than 600 secondary school pupils made up 47 groups from 27 boroughs to battle it out as the London Youth Games Dance Championships returned to the Copper Box Arena for a second successive year.

Abbs Cross Academy in Hornchurch were crowned winners, coming top in both key stage three and four categories after impressing dancing judges Lena Dee, Nathan Ramsay and Dharmz.

All the troupes had to create an original dance with music of their choice, and the day featured a host of styles from street to jazz, contemporary to tap, and everything in between.

Part of the nationwide School Games – the largest youth sports festival in Europe – the event was delivered by the Exercise Movement and Dance Partnership, Greater London Authority and Sport England.

Nicky Affleck, development manager at the London Youth Games said: “We strive to bring sporting opportunities to young people across all boroughs in the capital and running an inclusive dance competition for schools has been a dream of ours for many years.

“This event shows so much promise and has been embraced by the all the schools and young Londoners taking part.”