DOZENS of children took part in a traditional maypole dance as part of their school's Bank Holiday celebrations.

More than 75 reception class pupils from Woodthorpe Primary School danced to accordion music around a maypole in their school yard.

The children, aged between four and five, wove colourful patterns around the pole with ribbons as part of the holiday dance.

The Summerfield Road school has used a maypole every year since 1968.

Acting deputy headteacher Richard Thompson said: "It's something that the children look forward to doing.

"There's always a touch of nostalgia when the older children go out to watch as it is something they remember doing too."

In Sinnington, pupils from the village school put on a maypole dancing display yesterday to mark the start of their village fair.

Headteacher Gloria Birks said:

"There were 20 dancers in total with 16 ribbons."

"The fair and the dancing were both opened by 11-year-old Emily Wood, who is a Year Six pupil. She rang a bell in the village hall which has recently been refurbished.

"The maypole was followed by some traditional Northumbrian clog dancing taught to the children by a teacher of ours from Newcastle."

After the dancing, visitors and residents enjoyed stalls and sports events on the village green.

Updated: 11:01 Tuesday, May 07, 2002