MORE than 50 hardy morris dancers braved the cold to welcome the Mayday sunrise on Box Hill this morning (Wednesday, May 1).
Eighteen members of the Dorking-based Rampant Rooster side were joined by the Kingston Grove and Ewell St Mary groups for two hours of frenetic activity starting at 5am.
Rampant Rooster member Andrew Fereday said the sides took it in turns to perform rehearsed routines before joining together for a mass dance featuring all 53 participants.
The Coulsdon resident said: "It's a traditional morris thing we do to welcome the beginning of the agricultural year.
"It was very cold but at least it was dry, unlike last year when the rain was so bad it forced us to stop after an hour."
The event was attended by Mole Valley District Council chairman Caroline Salmon and one lone cyclist who stopped to watch.
For more information on Rampant Rooster, visit www.rampantroostermorris.co.uk
