MORRIS dancers decked out in bright colours greeted the sunrise as they drew on pagan tradition to celebrate the arrival of spring.

The dancers with painted faces and adorned with pheasant feathers clashed sticks at Croome between Worcester and Pershore as they marked the arrival of spring on Sunday, May 1.

More than 80 Morris dancers and musicians congregated at the National Trust’s Panorama Tower to ‘Dance-Up the Sun’.

Richard Hannah, chairman of Upton Folk Festival, said:

“Whenever May 1 falls in the May Day Bank holiday weekend, Morris dancers from Upton Folk Festival gather around the Panorama Tower near Croome.

"The festival is in its 27th year and is a showcase for traditional dancers from around the world with styles as diverse as North West England clog dancers, belly dancing and local morris dancing.

"There has been a tradition of Morris dancing in Upton and in winter the local people danced at the local large houses, like Croome Court."

From the Panorama Tower they were able to see the sun rise over the Vale of Evesham.

Sue White of the Wild Thyme Border Morris (on behalf of Upton Folk Festival) said: “It was great to see everyone dancing together when the sun rose and we all cheered when the first little sliver of orange broke the horizon right on time at 5.38am.”

May 1 has traditionally been regarded in England as ‘the first day of summer’ so has long been a reason to celebrate.

Dancers from as far afield as Dartmoor and Carlisle joined the celebrations at Croome and the clashing of sticks and beating of drums filled the air.

Some of the many sides represented there were Wild Thyme Border Morris, Carlisle Sword, Boggarts Breakfast and the Dartmoor Border Morris who were dressed in brightly coloured ‘tatter jackets’ made of ribbons and strips of cloth, pheasant feathers in their hats and bells on their knees.

Visitors can explore inside the Panorama Tower on free open day events being held by the National Trust on Tuesday June 21, Sunday July 3 and Wednesday, July 6, between 11am and 3pm.