YOUNGSTERS celebrated May Day with the ancient traditions of maypole and morris dancing.

At Hallow Primary School, near Worcester, classes three and four found a dry pocket in the torrential rain on Wednesday to perform on the village hall's car park, in front of other students, staff and parents.

This followed a special tea party inside the village hall, organised by the local church. Deputy headteacher Spencer Morris said: "We had a really wonderful day despite the weather, although it did stop us from performing on the green.

"Fortunately, the rain stopped about two minutes before the children went out, and it stayed dry for them. They did well and really enjoyed themselves."

Mr Morris said May Day had been celebrated at the school for many years. "It was great because many of the parents, and even grandparents who came to watch, had also danced at the school when they were pupils."

He added: "I would like to thank the Friends of Hallow School who donated money for new bells, and Dean Clarke, whose grandson is a pupil at the school, who came to teach the children morris dancing."

At Dines Green Primary School in Worcester children led a procession from the school, along Tudor Way, and back, to celebrate May Day yesterday.

Headteacher Steve Gough said: "We started with an assembly where our year sixes spoke about the tradition of May Day and where it comes from.

"Then we had the crowning of our May Queen, before we did the procession. This was a whole school event and something we thought would be nice to do to get all the children together."

May Day has been a traditional day of festivities throughout the centuries.

It is most associated with towns and villages celebrating springtime fertility and revelry with village fetes and community gatherings.