OFFERS have been flooding in for a troupe of majorettes who were upset at being snubbed by a major Portland event.

The Second Edition Majorettes were initially told that they could not perform at this year’s Portland Steam and Vintage Show but after being contacted by the Echo, the organisers made a U-turn.

The troupe will now be entertaining visitors to Southwell Park for a second year on the weekend of July 17 and 18 and the good news does not stop there.

Invitations for the troupe to show off their skills have poured in and the young baton-twirlers have already stepped out to perform at Weymouth Speedway.

And MaryLou Anderson, the Echo’s Abbotsbury and Langton Herring community correspondent, has also offered the majorettes a place at the first ever Abbotsbury Village Fayre on July 11.

Troupe leader Melody Wilding said: “We just want to let everyone know that as a result of the Echo story we have been offered shows by Starlight Childcare, Portland Red Triangle Cricket Club and Weymouth Wildcats.

“We had a performance at the Weymouth speedway after Jem Dicken of the Wildcats contacted us.

“We have done a show for Starlight Childcare in Dorchester and in September we will be doing Portland Red Triangle Cricket Club’s fete.

“We’d like to thank everyone for their help.”

Adrian Strong, of Starlight Childcare, initially offered the troupe a chance to show off their skills at an open day at Winfrith Day Nursery this Easter weekend but when they were unable to attend so they settled on the ‘Starlight Childcare Holding Hands For Haiti’ event.

Mr Strong added: “This is on a voluntary basis but it could broaden their area for future bookings.”

The Second Edition Majorettes of Portland currently has 37 members, all aged between five and 14 years old.

After the initial upset, one mum set up a Facebook group called ‘Portland Steam Fair does not support us locals!’ that gained the rapid support of 253 members.

Portland Steam and Vintage Show event organiser Mick Mulley said they would now be making space for the troupe at the show, which also boasts entertainment from the Portsmouth Wild West Association.

He added: “Most of our arena events are taken up with vehicles, tractors and steam engines but we will try and slot the majorettes in somewhere.”

The majorettes are currently looking for sponsors to help them to buy more equipment.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Melody on 07718 395222.