Friends, parents and pupils at a performing arts school in Folkestone have rallied together to raise funds for a memorial bench for a former dance teacher.

Roz Wilson had been part of Studio Six for more than 35 years before her passing last June at the age of 63 after a long 12-year battle with breast cancer.

The mother-of-three, who lived in Hawkinge, first joined the dance club in 1981 and took over running the school in 2003 alongside her friend Laura Gibson.

Now, nearly a year after her death, the theatre fanatic will have a spot for those who loved and knew her to visit.

Her daughter Roxy Mellish-Wilson, 37, explained why the JustGiving page was set up: "I wanted to create a memorial somewhere that people could go and talk to my mum and remember her to pay their respects.

"People kept asking if there is somewhere they could go.

"I thought a bench overlooking the sea would be the best place."

Mrs Wilson, originally from south east London, fell in love with the town when she first visited with the girls’ brigade as a teenager.

She came back after finishing school and got a job at the Grand, where she won a competition kicking off her career as a resident dancer.

During her career, she regularly appeared at town nightspots including Stones, where she met her future husband Roger, who she had three children with - Raoul, Roxy and Scarlett.

Roxy said that after her passing, the family drew strength from the outpouring of love for Mrs Wilson: "It really helped that there's so many people that have so many wonderful stories about her.

"The sheer volume of donations in such a short space of time proves how loved she was."

The online fundraising page only opened at the start of May, but managed to smash its target of £1500 within a matter of weeks. Excess donations will go towards the Pilgrims Hospice which provided palliative care to Mrs Wilson and her family.

Mrs Wilson's bench plaque will include some of her favourite sayings, including 'Love Never Dies', the name of one of her favourite musicals, which is the sequel to Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera.

It will also read 'Studio Six Superstar' and 'She was wild!'.

This year's annual Studio Six show will also be performed as a tribute to Mrs Wilson on Sunday July 22.

Roxy has now taken over teaching her mother's dance classes at the school based at St Martin’s Community Centre in Cheriton. She said: "It would be nice if the bench is completed in time for the show."

The family are currently working to agree a spot for Mrs Wilson's bench.

Friend Laura Gibson said: "I’m completely overwhelmed with the generosity of so many kind people and would like to thank them for making this happen.

"The heartfelt messages left with the donations brought tears to my eyes.

"Roz was so loved by so many and it will be a beautiful memorial for all her friends family and Studio Six students to visit and remember her."

To donate, visit Roz's JustGiving page.