Hundreds of Oxford children are getting in a spin over Latin dancing and there are now plans to establish an inter-school Strictly Come Dancing style competition.

Latin dancing classes are running at six Oxford primary schools and have proved so popular that several have now put it on the PE curriculum.

Dance teacher George Martini has made it his mission to teach dancing to a new generation after seeing the pleasure it gave to his eight-year-old daughter.

And teachers - many of whom are also learning to dance - say they have noticed a marked improvement in the behaviour and concentration of pupils since the classes started.

North Hinksey Primary School deputy headteacher Emma Jeavons said: "It's very disciplined. There are children of all academic abilities taking the classes and they have to remember a lot of different steps, so it's working the mind quite a lot and you can see that reflected in the classroom."

Mr Martini, 48, who has been running the classes for three months, said: "There are all these cliques in school, but I mix the children up when they come to the lessons so they are forced to change partners and work with different people.

"Some of the lads were worried that it might be a bit of a pansy thing to do, but we broke it all down and started introducing the salsa music by mixing it in with hip hop stuff and they loved it."

North Hinksey pupil Charlie Shearan, aged 10, said: "I'm really enjoying listening to lots of music that I haven't heard before - it's a lot of fun.

"I think doing the dancing makes it easier to learn and remember things."

Of the 22 pupils taking the classes at North Hinksey only five are boys, but eight-year-old Laurence Scott said that was not a problem. He said: "It's not that bad being outnumbered by the girls, they just have to get in line and dance with us in turn."