Ed Balls was the £70,000 top prize at a charity auction and has been lined up to lead a private dance lesson.

The former shadow chancellor and his Strictly Come Dancing partner Katya Jones were the big money prize at a gala for global literacy charity Room to Read at Drapers' Hall in London.

The charity said the winner paid the top price for a private dancing lesson - and Balls is delighted at the vote of confidence following the event which was attended by City bosses.

He said: "I'm happy that putting myself in the spotlight has helped Room to Read raise such a lot of money for their programmes spanning 10 countries across Asia and Africa. I'm looking forward to teaching the City a thing or two about being nimble-footed."

Room to Read founder John Wood said: "We're extremely grateful to Ed and Katya for donating this truly one-of-a-kind auction prize and it's been an amazing result for us. The money raised will help to provide a quality education for 2,000 children across Asia and Africa."

The charity is a global organisation aiming to transform the lives of millions of children in low-income countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education.