Being "a good little dancer" with "beautiful, beautiful feet" may not be what most people expect from the Business Secretary, but according to professional dancer Erin Boag that is exactly what Vince Cable is.

Mrs Boag, who was partnered with Dr Cable for a Christmas special of the BBC's hit show Strictly Come Dancing, said her experience of foxtrotting with the Twickenham MP was fun from start to finish.

The New Zealander, who moved to Surbiton in 1996 and now has a home in nearby Kingston, said: "Vince is a very charming man, and a good little dancer.

"He's been social dancing for years and told me he enjoys it and it gives him a release as he's a very busy man.

"I told him 'I want you to have fun but I also want you to go out there and give them something competitive'. I wanted him to be really proud of what he did."

The 35-year-old dancer, who has previously been partnered with sports stars Austin Healey and Colin Jackson on the show, said she was delighted when she heard she would be dancing with Dr Cable, as she had heard about his much-documented love of dancing.

She said: "He was utterly charming and one of the best dancers I've danced with.

"When a man takes hold of you, you want to feel relaxed and don't want to worry he will step on your feet. With Vince I was never nervous he was going to stand on my feet."

Mrs Boag, taught Dr Cable the foxtrot in seven one-hour training sessions, before taking to the dancefloor with him to impress the judges and scoop second place in the celebrity competition.

She will be running drop-in dance classes on Monday nights at Kingston Dance Studios starting on January 31.