These Doncaster dancers went on a 'Dechox' and raised nearly £500 for the British Heart Foundation

The girls, from Amersall School of Dance in Scawthorpe, Doncaster, abstained from chocolate throughout March and raised £490 in total for the charity.

The cause has special significance for Bailey-Jo Senior, 13, who lost her granddad shortly before the girls began their challenge.

Bailey-Jo's mum Sylvia, 42, said: “My dad suffered with his heart and the British Heart Foundation did an awful lot for him.

“If it wasn't for them he wouldn't have lived as long as he did.”

The five are very close, going dancing four nights a week and most Saturday mornings.

Amanda Allen, whose daughter Darcey, 11, took part, said: “It is a massive part of their lives.

“They spend so much time together.”

The girls found the challenge surprisingly tough at first.

Amanda, 47, from Scawsby, said: “I think they thought it was going to be easy, but they all found it hard.”

Sylvia, who lives in Bentley and is a dance teacher at Amersall, added: “When they are dancing they need something quick for a boost.

“90 per cent of the time that is a bit of chocolate or a bag of crisps.”

However, they were encouraged to keep going by the number of donations they received.

Amanda said: “They set themselves a target of £100 at first.

“Once they got past that, they just kept going.”

Their efforts raised £435, which rose to £490 with Gift Aid contributions.

They celebrated the end of the month in an appropriate way.

Sylvia said: “The day after was Easter Sunday, so Bailey-Jo just demolished everything.”

Amanda said: “One of the girls stayed up past midnight to eat chocolate and my daughter had chocolate milkshake for breakfast.

“On Sunday they basically had a chocolate day.

“It was nice that they could all get together and celebrate, and all the mums sat and had a piece of chocolate cake as well.”

Sylvia said that the five plan to continue fundraising 'once or twice a year' following their success.