IRISH dancing teacher Anne Flood has said goodbye to her pupils after almost 14 years.

Parents of her young pupils organised a leaving party for the Dublin-born woman last Tuesday, as she prepared to embark on her new life with husband Paul, back in the Emerald Isle.

Mrs Flood has travelled twice weekly from her Cowley home for the past 14 years to teach dancers of all ages at the Irish Centre and Social Club in London Road, High Wycombe.

During this time the Anne Flood School of Dancing has trained champions including the current All Ireland and International Champion, James Knowles, and has seen some of Mrs Flood's own family land leading dance roles across the world.

Her 25-year-old son, Martin, was the main understudy with Riverdance for its Broadway productions in New York and daughter Geraldine Noone, who lives in Sands, High Wycombe, also followed in her footsteps by becoming an Irish dancing teacher.

"Of course I will miss all my pupils after spending so long here but I am looking forward to a quieter life," said Mrs Flood.

But her job as Irish dancing adjudicator and grading examiner will mean she will take regular trips across the waters.

Mrs Flood came to Britain in 1960 where she won many championships as part of the prestigious Ted Kavanagh's School of Irish Dancing in London.

She also trained a senior team who won the World Championships in 1995.

Sally Moll, whose three children have danced under Mrs Flood, said: "She has done so much for the community here. We will all miss her a great deal."