A Maidstone dad is taking the internet by storm, after being filmed rushing onto the stage to help his young daughter, who suffered a bout of stage fright during a dance performance.

Amelia Hicks, 4, was taking part in her first live display at the Hazlitt Theatre in the town, having spent the last year training hard in classes at the Flair School of Dance.

All seemed to be going well, with the youngster showing off some of her best moves to the sound of Lily Allen's version of Somewhere Only We Know.

But the youngster suddenly realised the scale of the crowd in front of her, and completely froze, before starting to cry.

In true hero fashion, dad Michael, 34, made his way through the audience and joined her on stage, where the pair danced together for the remainder of the song.

Mr Hicks, who lives in Foxglove Rise with wife Hayley and younger daughter Chloe as well as Amelia, said: "My parental instincts just kicked in.

"I tried to leave a long enough time in case the dance teacher was going to come up but eventually decided to jump up and help her.

"It was her first live show and she said she realised everyone was looking at her and she just froze.

"So I told her it was just another dance routine and to pretend it was just like a normal class."

The heart-warming moment, filmed by Diamond 9 Productions, was reminiscent of a BBC Christmas advert last year, where a father encourages his panic-stricken daughter by joining her in a dance.

Lucy Barry, principal of the Flair School of Dance, said: "It was fantastic, and the track was so evocative for what was going on - it was pretty special.

"We are a properly inclusive school and this is a great example of that feel-good vibe that lets parents feel comfortable rushing up on stage to help.

"We've just celebrated 15 years and there hasn't ever been a moment like that. Michael definitely deserves some kind of recognition."

Mr Hicks, an operations manager, added: "The other parents were brilliant - I said sorry and that I didn't want to take attention away from their children, but they said they'd have done the same.

"People have said to me 'before you know it, you'll be an internet sensation', though I think it will be more embarrassing for Amelia when she's older."

Chloe, 2, has also started taking classes at the same school and is looking to follow in her older sister's footsteps over the coming years.

"I might have to dust off the same shoes when she has her first show," Mr Hicks added.