May frolics at Hare Hill House

Littleborough Oakenhoof at the 2016 May Frolics

The Oakenhoof Cloggers entertained visitors on a perfect spring afternoon in Hare Hill Park on Sunday 8 May, dancing to music played by The Black Nan Folk Band.

Clog dancing peaked in popularity between the 1870s and the early 20th century and was performed by miners and factory workers during the industrial revolution. It's popularity encouraged early dancers, such as Dan Leno the first clog dancing world champion to turn professional.

Whether visitors understood the history or technicalities of clog dancing is largely unimportant because they laughed and joined in when invited to get tangled up with the colourful ribbons of the maypole.

Traditional games such as 'shove ha'penny' and skittles entertained the youngsters as mums and dads piled into enormous chocolate cakes before a snooze in the sun.

A spokesperson said: "Hare Hill House and the park looked lovely amid cherry blossom and spring flowers as families picnicked on the grass."