Strictly Come Dancing star Kimberley Walsh’s old dance school has launched a campaign to get the nation voting for the Bradford-born Girls Aloud singer.

The DM Academy in Shipley is exhorting the public to “Vote Kimberley!” after the singer, 30, of Sandy Lane, shocked viewers two weeks ago by almost exiting the BBC1 weekend competition when she finished in the bottom two.

Kimberley and her dance partner Pasha Kovalev survived after judges voted to save the couple, but her former dance tutor Deana Morgan and her pupils don’t want to see Kimberley in danger again.

Deana said: “We were all shocked when Kimberley finished in the bottom two that week. The problem is the judges are giving her such high marks that the public might think they don’t have to vote for her to stay in – but it’s the public vote that counts, not the judges’ marks. We don’t feel she deserves to miss out because she’s a brilliant dancer so we want everyone to vote for Kimberley to keep her in the show.”

Deana taught Kimberley dance from the young star-in-waiting being just eight-years-old. When Kimberley went off to study for her degree she continued her training.

Kimberley shot to fame when she was chosen to be part of the band that became Girls Aloud for the TV talent show Pop Stars: The Rivals, ten years ago. Deana said: “Strictly brings it all back because we did a similar campaign to get people voting for her in Pop Stars: The Rivals. She’s so inspirational for other young people in our community.”

The youngsters at the DM Academy have had T-shirts printed to support Kimberley, who will be dancing the tango tonight to the Prince classic When Doves Cry. Kimberley and Pasha have been practising all week and Kimberley said on the social network Twitter this week: “Tango rehearsals are going well so far. We are def making progress :) I love this dance! #scd #teampasherley”

Strictly is at 6.40pm on BBC1, with the results show on Sunday evening.