Crowds celebrate May Day with worship and dancing in Somerset

Celebrations to mark the beginning of May have taken place across Somerset.

A crowd gathered on Glastonbury Chalice Well earlier to celebrate Beltane, where they observe a modern interpretation of the ancient Celtic pagan fertility rite of Spring.

It saw chanting, reflection and moments of celebration take place.

Elsewhere, three Morris groups performed from 5:30 BST as the sun rose over Ham Hill in Stoke-sub-Hamdon near Yeovil to celebrate May Day.

May Day is a European festival that dates back nearly a thousand years.

Morris dancing involves performers - often wearing hats and bells on their legs - wielding handkerchiefs, sticks or swords, to the accompaniment of folk music.

Jenny Hunniset, from the Treacle Eaters Clog Morris Dancers who performed at Ham Hill said the group had been practising all winter for two hours every Monday to be ready for the summer season of dancing.

She said: "Morris dancers celebrate the dawn on May first and its a welcome to the summer.

"Treacle Eaters have been coming here since we formed in 1983 with our good friends Wyvern Jubilee Morris and the more recently formed team Enigma."

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