A partially deaf dancer from Hackbridge lost the final of a BBC talent show last night.

Kirsty Swain, 29, missed out on her dream of being crowned the winner of BBC1 prime time show So You Think You Can Dance, finishing fourth.

Her story and talent had moved the show's viewers and judges.

The dance teacher at performance art school Stagecoach Sutton has had hearing problems since birth, and dances by being able to feel the vibrations and bass of music.

She battled her way through to the final from the thousands of dancers who auditioned, and survived the process of elimination that saw 16 other finalists voted off over the past eight weeks.

The jazz dancer was one of four finalists battling out for a £50,000 winners prize and an invitation to appear on the American version of the show.

But in last night's final showdown, the jazz dancer was the first to be voted off by viewers.

After finding out she had lost, she fought back tears, saying: “I dreamed of making it this far, I'm absolutely grateful. Thanks so much for giving me this opportunity.

“Everyone at home who voted for me made my dreams come true, honestly.

“If I have inspired anyone to go for their dreams, just do it because it can happen.”

The show was won by tap dancer Matt Flint, 29, from Scarborough, North Yorkshire.