A STRUGGLING cheerleading squad that dreamed of winning just one competition in 10 years are leaping for joy after propelling themselves from underdogs to supreme champions in one fell swoop.

Beswick’s Eastland Stars swept the board at the National Street Cheer contest in Stoke on Trent, scooping five trophies - and a whole lot of respect from their opponents.

The group, split into three teams according to age, have strived for glory since they kicked off a decade ago, meeting at Ashbury Meadow Children's Centre.

And now they find the whole experience somewhat uplifting - with pom-poms akimbo.

Although they have gone home with the odd medal and trophy - in fact runner-up and fifth place at last year's Street Cheer festival - they have never actually won outright.

Now the girls, aged from six to 15, are more than rising stars. They are flying high as the conquering heroes at just one event, after clinching three firsts, an effort trophy and even a special Volunteer of the Year award to junior and senior coach and choreographer Sereena Hunter.

The groups, the Mini-Peeps, juniors and seniors, have practised relentlessly for two hours twice a week, putting in as much extra time whenever they could.

They knew that when they ventured out to Staffordshire they were ready to give it their best shot. Carol Dytor, head coach, said: "It was a wonderful end to a fantastic event. The squad has earned its place. We would also like to thank parents for their continued support and our volunteers, including Tracey Bradley and Donna Hunter."

Vicky Howard, coach and choreographer for the Mini-Peeps who won the Games section and gained a third in the Cheer section, said: "I am proud of all the teams. Everyone has worked so hard this year and deserve top placing."

The Unit Squad (aged 11-14) were championships of both their classes’ Games and Cheers sections, and the Crew Squad (15-18), who performed for the first time against the toughest age group of the sport, scooped a trophy for effort.

The champion squad are: Mini-Peeps - Madison Pearson, Amelia Sherwood Baxter, and Alys Lawrence, seven, and Beyonce Brown and Stella Ezemuo, six. Unit Crew - Becky Webster and Nicole Owens, 14, Tia Ennis and Angie Ngoma, 13, and Georgie Childs and Georgia Connolly, 11. Senior Crew - Sereena Hunter, 18, Ellen Bradley and Demi Lea Fraine, 16, Laura Connolly, 15, and Danielle Purcell, 14.