SCHOOL cheerleaders performed with pop star Rita Ora and rubbed shoulders with the likes of sports stars Sir Mo Farah and Didier Drogba when they were invited to attend Unicef’s Soccer Aid.

The squad from East Bergholt High School joined coach Cathy Graham and her dance group, Ballastik, for the huge TV fundraiser based at Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge.

Cathy is often asked by TV producers if she can provide dancers and recent appearances have included Britain’s Got Talent, X Factor, Made in Chelsea and This Time with Alan Partridge.

The dancers, who included four girls from the school, took part in Rita’s half-time concert at the recent football match.

Players included athletes Sir Mo Farah and Usain Bolt, presenter Susanna Reid and veteran footballers Michael Owen, Jamie Redknapp and Eric Cantona.

The cheerleaders were also flag bearers for the opening ceremony which saw them stand alongside the celebrities and football legends.

Cathy said: “Overall we had 85 dancers there that day from London and the surrounding areas, it was a long day of course, we were there at 9am at Stamford Bridge.”

After technical rehearsals the girls took part in the live TV event.

Cathy, from Dedham, said: “It was great fun.”

And while the protocol was for the dancers to be professional and not approach the stars, Cathy said host Dermot O’Leary, who hails from Colchester, spoke to them while Rita thanked them.

The East Bergholt pupils, who are aged between 13 and 16, attend Cathy’s coaching sessions for an after-school club.

The Ballistik Dancers started in 2012 after Cathy set up a cheerleading squad at Thurstable School in Tiptree.

Now some of those former schoolgirls have grown up and dance professionally across the world.

This year’s Soccer Aid raised more than £10 million for vulnerable children’s charity, Unicef.