BRITAIN’S Got Talent star Angela Richens threw a pink party for dancing dogs and their owners after a brush with breast cancer.

Angela 73, who reached the semi-finals eight years ago with her dog Teddy, was diagnosed with the disease in 2015 after nearly missing her last scan.

She said: “It was quite strange really, but very fortunate how I found out. I had missed what was going to be my last scan because I had the flu and I said to myself that I would reschedule but I forgot to do that.

“A couple weeks after I remembered I hadn’t booked the appointment and I debated about whether to go in for it or not. But I decided to and that’s when they found the lump.”

She had to have radiotherapy for two months and had part of her breast removed.

Angela, of Frobisher Drive in Walcot told the Adver: “I was so surprised because I didn’t realise that you can get it at my age, I was almost 70.

“I was very positive because I know people who have had it and recovered and I was confident everything was going to work out. I felt like it was something I had to go through in my life.”

Angela decided she would put on a pink party at St Andrews C of E Church at Raleigh Avenue for members of her Swindon Dog Dancing School

They raised more than £100 at the event for Breast Cancer Care.

Angela said: “It was fabulous, two or three people weren’t able to make it that’s always disappointing but it was a lovely event.”

She started the school in 2008 with Teddy the poodle.

She said: “I started off by just teaching dogs to dance because I wanted to share what I was learning and doing with my dog. To begin with I thought there was going to be a lot of demand for dog dancing specifically, but those who came to my classes just wanted to do something fun with their dogs.

“I ended up helping people and taught people with anything they wanted to learn with their dogs. We are really enjoying choreographing at the moment.”

After opening the school she entered various competitions. She and Teddy got to the BGT semi-finals in 2011.Teddy died not long after becoming a star and now she trains with Charlie.

Her classes run every Friday from 6.30pm for beginners and from 8pm for advanced at St Andrews.