A dance school principle and a footballer have been nominated for a Spirit of London award.

Hayley Rea, creator of the Aim High Dance Academy will appear at the Indig02 area on November 27 alongside former Croydon Athletic player Robbie Hughes.

Miss Rea and Mr Hughes were whittled down from over 3000 applicants to just three in their respective categories.

Miss Rea's dance school, currently in Lambeth, is opening a Croydon branch in the new year.

The dancer also teaches children aged from two-years upwards at the Red Robins nursery in Thornton Heath.

Mr Hughes, 29, was savagely beaten into a coma while holidaying in Crete.

He has been nominated for the Achievement Through Sports category for his dedication to getting back on the football pitch after the assault.

The Former Sutton United player needed four life-saving operations after the attack in Malia on June 17, 2008.

Gary Trowsdale, managing director of the Daminola Taylor awards, said: “We wanted to create an awards event that young people could feel was truly inspirational and showed how passionate we are about promoting the young people of London positively.”