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Organisers keep tradition alive as straw bear returns

PA Media A man wearing a pink top and brown jacket and sunglasses is taking a selfie with the straw bear. PA Media
Organisers of the festival say more spectators have joined the event each year since Covid

Organisers of a festival which sees a man parade through a market town dressed as a straw animal say it has continued to grow in popularity.

The Whittlesey Straw Bear Festival, held in Cambridgeshire, is a tradition dated back to the mid-1800s and returned on Saturday - with dancers and musicians entertaining the public .

The festival will conclude on Sunday when an effigy of the straw bear is burned at Decoy Lakes.

Gary Cook, festival director, said: "It's been building up the last couple of years, like lots of festivals we have suffered during Covid, but I think now people are beginning to come out again."

PA Media A man dressed as a straw animal in front of a crowd. PA Media
Celebrations will continue into the day with a straw bear effigy being burnt to mark the end of the festival
PA Media A man from the Black Swan Border Morris group is dressed in black and purple. He is not facing the camera but has a long grey beard and has black and purple face paint on.PA Media
The festival director said the Whittlesey Straw Bear was a unique event

Despite the day beginning with a frosty start, Mr Cook said plenty of people joined as spectators on Saturday.

"Locally, particularly in the Fens, these sort of traditions are a one off, they are a bit obscure.

"I don't know anyone else in the country that does a festival like this. People like to see something different and it also gives a brief insight into the history."

The history of the event started when plough boys would go around the town begging for food and would dress in straw to prank anyone who would not give them anything.

Stephen Huntley/BBC Gary Cook in a red shawl. He is looking at the camera and is wearing black rimmed glasses and a hat with feathers. Stephen Huntley/BBC
Gary Cook, the festival's director, said it was a "really good" turnout on Saturday
PA Media Morris and molly dancers. PA Media
Morris and molly dancers took part in the festival
Stephen Huntley/BBC A blue flag which says WHITTLESEY in white writing, a figure of a straw bear and red writing which says STRAW BEAR.Stephen Huntley/BBC
The Straw Bear Festival has been a part of Whittlesey's history since the mid-1800s
Stephen Huntley/BBC A man and woman in colourful clothing both wearing hats are looking at the camera and smiling. The man on the left has a green painted face and is stood next to a woman who has a blue painted face.Stephen Huntley/BBC
The festival typically attracts a variety of folk groups
Stephen Huntley/BBC A folk group of dancersStephen Huntley/BBC
The festival returned in the 1980s and has been going in this format ever since

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