YORK'S biggest ever Morris dancing event has been hailed as a huge success.

York Press:

The Grimsby Morris men take part in the Day of Dance in Parliament St York. Picture: Nigel Holland

Hundreds of Morris dancers from as far away as Somerset and the Scottish borders descended on the city centre on Saturday for a national event.

Fifty-two groups of dancers were involved in the Joint Morris Organisations' annual gathering, which is held in a different city each year.

York Press:

Members of the Bare Bones Border Morris dancers (left) Joan Baxter, Ruth Gillespie,Viv Law and Jean Anderson entertain shoppers in Parliament Street. Picture: Nigel Holland

There were performances in locations including St Helen's Square, St Sampson's Square, Parliament Street, the Minster piazza, Exhibition Square, Coppergate Centre, Museum Gardens and the Eye of York near Clifford's Tower, where the finale was held.

Dances including the Cotswold hankie and stick dances, clog dances from Lancashire and Appalachian, Garland and Longsword displays.

York Press:

Juliette Pegram, foreman of York group Minster Strays, which hosted the Day of Dance, said: "It was absolutely fantastic. The weather was great and we had a lot of positive comments about York as a venue for the event."

She said organising the event had been a huge logistical task, and she thanked Wendy Bostock in particular for her work in ensuring the day went off smoothly.