SUNDAY lunchtime, Redhill town centre.
Shoppers amble from store to store while couples enjoy an early lunch at the town's cafes in the last of the summer sun.
Suddenly the strains of Wake Me Up by Avicii burst through the town centre. In the middle of the High Street a group of shoppers drop their bags and form into a circle.
Within moments they have been joined by a second outer circle and the two groups launch into a choreographed routine – Redhill is experiencing its first flashmob.
But this was not a random collection of dancers unleashing their moves on Surrey's shoppers. Each step was a central ideal of the Us on a Bus charity which had joined the Challenge Network to host the event.
"It was amazing," said Renée Canter, business development manager for Us in a Bus.
"It was a bit nerve-wracking but, because it was a circle, we felt much safer. We definitely drew attention to ourselves, we wanted to catch people's eye. There were passers-by standing and stopping to look. One lady danced past and a lot of families stopped to watch."
The Challenge Network runs projects to increase community engagement for 16-year-olds after their GCSEs.
A group of these teenagers joined volunteers from Us in a Bus at Redhill's Warwick School, in Noke Drive, to plan their dance.
The youngsters choreographed the routine inspired by the core principles of Us in a Bus, which supports people with severe learning disabilities. These include being welcoming, supportive and respectful.
Renée believes the event was the first of its kind in the town. "It was fantastic, a real challenge, but it put us out there," she said.
The event also gave the Redhill-based charity a chance to promote themselves in the town.
