MORRIS dancers from across the country have taken part in the 30th annual York Festival of Traditional Dance.

The city centre came alive to the sound of jingling bells, clashing sticks, tapping clogs and rhythmic tunes over the weekend, with 150 brightly costumed dancers and musicians performing a variety of styles.

Kevin Holland, secretary of York team Ebor Morris, who organised the festival, said teams visited from as far away as Berkshire, Cheshire, Surrey and Northamptonshire.

He said the event started with a procession from St Helen’s Square to Parliament Street, and teams then danced at locations including King’s Square, St Sampson’s Square and St William’s College.

Each team gave a display dance for the Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Barbara Boyce, and the Civic Party during a grand showcase in St Sampson’s Square, where a thunderstorm drenched one team.