CRACKED ribs, twisted knees, bruises, bumps and scrapes are all par for the course for the eight couples preparing at take to the dancefloor next week for the last running of the dance spectacular Strictly Worcestershire.

The brainchild of organiser Gerard Smith, the event has raised more than £20,000 for cancer charities since first launching in 2014 and this year profits will be divided between Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign and Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer.

Eight contestant couples from the business community will be bidding to win the prized glitterball trophy in front of a 760-strong corporate audience at the Chateau Impney, Droitwich on the evening of Thursday, May 26 and for most of them it has been a painful, if entertaining and educating, journey.

Lawyer James Osborne of Harrison Clark Rickerbys, who is partnering business coach Dawn Owen from Bodykraft, said: "The physical challenge is considerable. Dawn is really svelte, but it is not easy to lift someone and hold them there elegantly and with control so that they can come back down to earth gracefully. We have trodden on each other’s feet and Dawn has cracked a rib. I go to the gym – or at least I did before I started this – and two hours of intense practice is more tiring than a good workout.”

Being careful not to have a "domestic on the dancefloor" will be husband and wife duo Su and Noel Colledge, operations director and repairs manager respectively at ludlowthompson. Su explained: "We will be dancing a modern tango, and disco / cha cha cha, aiming to utilise drama, mystery, funk (and lots of humour) to distract from the dancing in what can only be described as something WAY outside our comfort zone. Training commenced in October 2015, and we have now reached dress rehearsal stage, with bruises, bumps , scrapes, twisted knees and shoulder issues to name a few."

Also strutting their stuff will be Ben Mannion, director at Hewett Recruitment and his wife Geraldine, senior HR operations partner at Halliburton; Jennifer Appleton, operations director at ISO Quality Services Ltd, and Chris Orr, individual banking manager at Handelsbanken Worcester; Toby Holt, manager of restructuring and recovery services at Smith & Williamson LLP and Sarah Radley, managing director of Inksmoor Group Ltd; Clare Cross, account manager at Source Design and Print and Sam-Vandeleur Broadway, director of Emms Haberdashers in Droitwich; Julie Clifford, senior medical secretary at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, and Steve Chamberlain, who works for The Green Bus in the West Midlands and Mahmut Guler, manager of Bolero Bar and Kitchen in Worcester, and Jenny Gage, chief executive officer of Sight Concern Worcestershire.

Producer Mr Smith said: "We’ve been overwhelmed by the county’s support for Strictly Worcestershire since its debut in 2014 and everyone connected with this year’s event is determined to stage the best show yet.”

Returning as judges will be Lord Digby Jones, veteran broadcaster Bob Warman, dancer/choreographer Katie Love and Katie McPhilimey, managing editor/owner of Live 24-Seven magazines. Free Radio DJ Hursty and TV presenter Rebecca Jane are the MCs, while Robbie Williams tribute act Blobbie Williams, Worcester-based dance school Beat Breakerz and Katie Love will also perform. For more information, visit: strictlyworcestershire.co.uk