A UNITED Utilities worker from Shaw has waltzed his way to the runner’s up slot at a charity dance contest in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The contest, inspired by the BBC’s hit Strictly Come Dancing series partnered workers with professional dancers for weeks of training before a glittering finale.

Since starting in 2010, the total raised for various charities has topped £300,000.

This year, 10 couples performed before an assembled audience of 400 at Southport’s Floral Hall.

A close second was waterworks controller Liam Kiely, from Shaw, who ripped off his high-vis jacket to jive with professional dancer Cara Tighe.

The biggest surprise was for Liam’s 15-year-old daughter Lia, herself a keen ballroom dancer, who had no idea what her dad was up to when he invited her along to sit in the audience.

For Liam, aged 48, the hardest thing was keeping it from Lia.

He said: “I did my training for three months and she never knew. On the night I pretended that I’d been called to work and couldn’t go.

“But when she arrived and saw me on the posters she knew straight away. She gave me nine- and-a-half out of 10.

“I did it to make her proud but I didn’t expect what a buzz I would get out of it. I’m a real lads’ lad but I’ve signed up for lessons again and I’m contemplating doing it competitively.”