THE CO-FOUNDER of a Dorset-based dancing school, Ann Legge, has died at the age of 90.

Born in Dorchester on November 8, 1925, to Alice and Joseph Coltart, she was the youngest of seven children who lost their father shortly after Ann's birth due to ongoing complications from him being mustard gassed in the Great War.

At school, Ann gained a scholarship to attend the local grammar school, however it soon became clear that her real talent and passion lay in ballroom dancing.

She met Bill, her dance partner and future husband and the couple soon became inseparable on and off the dancefloor, which remained the case for 70 years.

This was with the only exception of when Bill went off to war, serving with distinction as part of General Wingate's special forces in Burma, The Chindits, from which he gained the Burma Star medal.

On his return home, Ann and Bill got married in March 1947 before living together with Ann's mother, Alice, in the family home in Dorchester.

After competing in dancing competitions across the country at amateur level, the couple turned professional and went on to win trophies across the UK and Europe.

Eventually they called time on their own competitive ballroom dancing careers with the aim of helping those aspiring to follow in their footsteps, which initially opened in Dorchester. They also took part in dancing exhibitions and were regular stars on the original BBC TV series, Victor Silvester Come Dancing.

In the late 1950s, the decision was made to relocate to Bournemouth, with The Legge School of Dancing opening on Kemp Road in Winton, where they continued to teach ballroom, Latin and freestyle disco/rock and roll. In addition, the couple ran tea dances and party nights at the school.

Ann's mother, Alice, moved with the couple to the town and lived with them until shortly before her death at the age of 96 in 1979.

Alongside teaching and exhibitions, Ann was also in great demand as a judge for professional dance competitions around the world.

Husband, Bill, died in July 2007, just a few months after the couple celebrated their 60 wedding anniversary.

Ann died on December 29 with her funeral service taking place at Bournemouth Crematorium on Friday, January 15 and donations going to Dementia UK.