A GROUP of hip-hopping ice dancers are desperate to get the cash boost they need to take their show on the road.

The Oxford Freestylers shot to national stardom, thanks to a winning performance on the rink in ITV’s Dancing On Ice show earlier this year.

Now the team has been invited to show off its skills as part of former rugby star Kyran Bracken’s ice dance spectacular when it pulls into Bournemouth in August.

The 37-year-old ex-England scrum half won Torvill and Dean’s Saturday night ice show last year and wanted the lads to feature in his own show.

But Wayne Oliver, 22, from Headington, Law-rence Osborn-Edwards, 18, from Blackbird Leys, Andy Hastings, 21, from Littlemore, Rob Firkins, 18, from Abingdon, and Jordan Heeley, 14, from Oxford, are struggling to find the cash to get on the road.

Manager Lisa Heeley, mum of Jordan, ex-plained why funds were tight for the Oxpens-based group.

She said: “The main expenses are travel costs and rehearsal time at Oxford Ice Rink. These boys are all in full-time education or employment, and we need to keep them out there in order to build upon their current success, so they can go all the way.

“”We all work really hard because we love it, but there is no money. One of the group has had to leave college because of the time he's missed.”

The Freestylers perform stunts on the ice, set to hip-hop music.

Mrs Heeley has now appealed to local businesses to help out.

“We would be happy to offer free advertising for a business and two tickets to events the Freestylers perform at, in exchange for some contributions to keep us going,” she added.

The team has won legions of fans, but also endured a spell of bad luck on the ice.

Andrew and Robert were taken to hospital just hours ahead of an appearance at Wembley Arena in the Dancing On Ice tour in April.

It had been set to be their crowning glory after winning the Hottest Ice Stars of Tomorrow competition in Dancing On Ice.

But a warm-up accident left Robert with a bad injury and Andrew with severe bruising.

The team needs to get on the road from August 27 to August 30.

news@oxfordmail.co.uk To help, email oxfordfree-stylers@ yahoo.co.uk