THE May Day morning dance by the Cogs and Wheels Ladies Morris saw a magnificent sunrise 'for the first time in many years' on Wednesday, May 1.

Every year on May 1, the Morris dancing troupe climb up to the Nine Maidens stone circle above Belstone to celebrate the ancient festival of Beltane by dancing around the flagpole and then dancing at the stone circle itself.

The stone circle above Belstone has several legends surrounding it — the most popular stating that the stones are the petrified remains of nine bold young girls who made the rash decision to dance on a Sunday.

They were said to be turned to stone for their heresy, and are condemned to dance briefly every noon throughout eternity.

Alexa Mason described the scene: 'At 5.30am the moor was bathed in rosy golden light with clear views in all directions, although Okehampton looked like a coastal town on the edge of silvery mist, shining like the sea.

'Appropriately, 'Queen of the May' was their first dance, as the peace of the moor was broken with the sound of music and bells, the energetic signalling of hankies followed by the clash of sticks.'

Alison Cruse, the Squire of Cogs and Wheels, said: 'It was a magnificent start to the season and we are looking forward to a happy summer of dancing.'

Afterwards the group enjoyed a slap-up English breakfast courtesy of Margaret Allin of the Victorian Tea Pantry, and continued to dance outside Finch Foundry and the Devonshire Inn.

The side will be performing outside twenty pubs on Thursdays from now until September as well as appearing at festivals and shows including the Royal Cornwall Show in June and Okehampton Show in August.