STRICTLY Come Dancing star fell in love with the Snowdogs and were inspired by having a dance on the pier.

EastEnders star Tameka Empson and her professional dance partner Gorka Marquez danced on Brighton Palace Pier and met models from the city's new SnowDogs by the Sea arts trail.

They found time to practice their routine on the boardwalk before wowing millions on Saturday night on the BBC One show.

"Doing the Charlestown on Brighton palace pier was such a lovely feeling," Tameka, who plays the bubbly Kim Fox in Eastenders, said.

The pair took a ride on the dodgems and even enjoyed some fish and chips to build up their energy as they got in the mood for their seaside inspired routine.

Tameka decided Brighton was the perfect spot after Gorka admitted he had never visited a British seaside resort.

They loved meeting the Snowdogs Palace Pup and GRRRace from the arts trail, which is raising funds for The Martlets hospice.

The Snowdog GRRRace was inspired by the main character from Peter James's crime novels while Palace Pup depicts a day out on the pier and prom like that enjoyed by the Strictly stars.

Marc Thorley, the pier's events and marketing manager, said: "They thought the Snowdogs were brilliant and so bright and eye catching. They said it was a great idea for such a great cause. It was a real pleasure to have them with us for the afternoon and they managed time to have some good traditional fish and chips plus a few goes on the dodgems but we figured they were use to spinning around so it was good practice."

Tameka and Gorka stormed through the first elination week - as did Sussex's Hollyoaks star Danny Mac, who grew up in Bognor.

Danny and Oti Oti Mabuse danced the Viennese Waltz to 'Never Tear Us Apart' by INXS with judge Craig Revel Horwood "loving it", declaring: "Wow, fantastic." With 32 marks, they finished joint top.