MORE than 60 Morris dance groups from as far away as Canada entertained visitors and residents of Upton on Saturday as the annual folk festival filled the streets and spilled out of town centre pubs.

Colour, camaraderie and a cacophony of traditional country folk music echoed throughout the town as crowds gathered to watch the yearly spectacle that has become a popular date in the folk festival calendar.

The festivities began at 5am on Friday morning as the dawning of May 1 was welcomed by dancers and 'mummers' - seasonal folk plays performed by troupes.

On Saturday the rain held away as groups of Morris dancers entertained the crowds, all introduced by master of ceremonies Richard Hannah, chairman of the Upton on Severn Folk, Dance and Song Society.

The event has been taking place since 1989 and is now promoted by the Dance and Song Society which formed in 2002 to help ensure the future of the festival. The event is a magnet for scores of dancing teams from around the country and some from overseas who each perform their own favourite and traditional pieces to music consisting of pipes, violin, accordion, music boxes and banjo, as well as the traditional bells strapped to their shins.

"It has been a very good event with at least 60 Morris groups, belly dancers and one Samba band," said Mr Hannah.

"I think the weather has subdued quite a few but the atmosphere has been very good. A lot of people have turned out to watch the dances and enjoy themselves."

Belly dancing displays took place under the bridge with groups of dancers gathering together and catching up with old friends.

A variety of stalls selling goods and food surrounded the main music and dance areas with one selling items to raise money for the relief effort in Nepal. There was also a display table for the Upton in Bloom committee who were selling tickets for the Sunday afternoon duck race.

On Sunday the festivities continued with the customary gathering of around 45 groups as they jingled and danced their way through town in the noon MegaMorris procession.

On Monday clog dancing was highlighted and several mummers plays were enjoyed by visitors and visiting dance groups. There was also the folk festival walk.

Many of the participating groups were from around Worcester and the West Midlands, though Yorkshire was also represented and a small group from Canada was taking part before heading north to take part in a festival in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, where BBC TV's Last of the Summer Wine used to be filmed.