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Village enjoys centuries-old May Day tradition

Charis Scott-Holm,East Yorkshire and Lincolnshireand
Harry Parkhill,in Hemswell
News imageBBC A group of children dressed in traditional parade clothing walk along a village street. The child at the front wears a white outfit with a sash reading "Hemswell May Queen" and is followed by others in white clothing and patterned headscarves. A large crowd of spectators lines the roadside behind them.BBC
Children from the village dressed in traditional costume as part of the celebrations

May Day celebrations have been taking place in a Lincolnshire village, which has been observing the tradition for almost 400 years.

Every first May bank holiday of the year, Hemswell's villagers flock to its static maypole, which is 18m (59ft) tall.

Morris dancers performed at the event, which also featured a May bonnet competition, while a local schoolgirl was crowned May Queen.

Nick Booth, of the Grimsby Morris Dancers, said: "We love coming to Hemswell, we've been coming a few years now and it's always a great day."

News imageA Morris dancing troupe waves their batons in the air, dressed in traditional clothing. Bystanders watch the dancing on the village street, which is decorated in Union Jack bunting.
Morris Dancing takes centre stage in Hemswell's May Day celebrations

The May Day event was organised by the Hemswell & Harpswell Village Hall Committee, which is made up of volunteers.

The event also included 12 children dancing around the maypole in conventional clothing.

News imageA group of men and women in traditional clothing grasp wooden poles as they dance in a residential street.
The Grimsby Morris Dancers said the event had been a "great day"
News imageA tall maypole decorated with different coloured ribbons, taken at an angle from the ground.
The village has been celebrating May Day since 1660, with its maypole at the centre of events

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