A BREAKDANCER has won the chance to dance on stage with a leading breakdancing crew.

Joe Cooper, 23, from Barnard Castle, County Durham, also won a Walkman phone when he won the Sony Ericsson North-East Breakdance final.

Watched by hundreds of people at Gateshead's MetroCentre, Mr Cooper beat other finalists following an individual performance and a dance-off battle.

The competition was judged by breakdance crew the B-Boys, who have performed at high-profile events such as The Clothes Show and starred in the film About A Boy.

After the competition, Mr Cooper was invited to dance on stage with the B-Boys.

He said: "I am so pleased to have won, especially in front of a top breakdancing crew. I love breakdancing and work hard at perfecting my moves and I think it has really paid off."

Ben Padley, of Sony Ericsson, said: "Joe has impressed us with all his incredible dance moves."