'Morris dancing in our town faces dying out'

Uttoxeter Heart of Oak Morris Dancers were formed in 1955, but have struggled to recruit new members in recent years

A Morris dancing group has called for more people to join it to save the folk dancing tradition from "dying out" in their town.

Uttoxeter Heart of Oak Morris Dancers is nearly 70 years old, but only has up to eight regular dancers, which is not enough to stage performances.

Members say that unless new dancers and musicians join in the next couple of months, it will be "extremely difficult" to continue.

Many members are aged in their 70s, with founding member Arthur Rowtledge aged 86. But there is one aged only in his 20s.

Sam Edgerton, 26, is leading the recruitment plea for people to come forward.

"We desperately need new members to come and help support it," he said.

In the last 15 years, the group has only been able to recruit four people, he added.

"Getting the word out there that Morris dancing is such a fun and enjoyable thing to do is quite difficult," Mr Edgerton said.

To bolster numbers for performances, they have been calling on help from a fellow Morris dancing group in Stafford.

Membership of the group ebbs and flows, founding member Arthur Rowtledge says

The Heart of Oak Morris Dancers dates back to 1955, but Mr Rowtledge is trying to remain positive.

"We only started off with eight people. We survived then, and we will survive again," he said.

The group is holding a practice night on 18 January at United Reform Church, Uttoxeter, and anyone is welcome to attend.