Rutland: Maypole dance group's plea for more members

A group of children are preparing to perform a maypole dance in May

A group fighting to continue a tradition of Maypole dancing in a Rutland village said they needed more members to keep going.

The Braunston troupe teaches children aged between five and 13 to weave ribbons around a pole while dancing.

Group leader Jo Palmer-Phillips said it was becoming increasingly difficult to find children to take part.

She said it would be "really sad" if the village lost the maypole dancing tradition.

Ms Palmer-Phillips said the group had been practising at Braunston and Brooke Village Hall since 1986.

"What's really nice is that the children, when they come along, they really enjoy doing it as well," she said.

Jo Palmer-Phillips has been teaching the dance for five years

The group has been forced to increase the upper age limit to try and ensure they have enough participants.

"We struggle to get people," she added.

"Some of the dances are a bit more complicated and you sort of need a few older people to help sort of lead, so what we really need is some sort of older children.

"It'd be really sad if it went. I don't know anywhere else in the area that still does maypole dancing."