A PARAMEDIC who won an award on a TV show last year will be dancing at a charity event in Brentwood.

Laurie Phillipson, who works for Essex Air Ambulance, is going to strut his stuff for his employers’ Strictly Come Dancing themed charity night, in the Brentwood Centre, on March 8.

Last year he received Health Heroes Award from Dr Hilary Jones on ITV1’s Daybreak and has also appeared on TV show Auction Party.

The paramedic is working hard with dancer and Britain’s Got Talent star Becky Milan-Vega to make sure he is ready for the big performance, which he said is a daunting but exciting prospect.

He added: “I have an excellent dance instructor in Becky Milan-Vega and I’m really enjoying the lessons – she’s very patient with me and encouraging.

“I enjoy chucking a few shapes at the work’s Christmas do and I spent most of my teens and early 20s playing drums in various bands so I thought I might be a better dancer than I’m turning out to be with my uncoordinated two left feet.

“Nonetheless, it is great fun. I love both the songs we will be dancing to and my neighbour is reminding me on a daily basis how much he’s looking forward to having a good laugh when he and his family come and see the end product in March.”

Other guests on the night will be Strictly Come Dancing professionals Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova, who will be judging the competition along with doing a performance themselves.

Tickets for the night cost between £10 and £15. For more information, visit www.essexairambulance.uk.com