OVER 100 morris dancers performed in front of entranced audiences at the weekend.

Dancers from Essex, Suffolk and Kent joined Maldon group, Alive and Kicking, to perform in Witham Town Centre on Saturday.

Squire, otherwise known as chair, Ruth Teverson, 63, has been dancing with the group for ten years.

She said: "It went very well, people really enjoyed it. We had all different types of Morris dances.

"We're a Maldon group but half of us live in Witham, which is a great place to dance because the floor is so hard and there's plenty of space. You get a lovely sound from the clogs on the ground.

"I always enjoyed watching morris dancing and then when my daughter went to Powers Hall School they had a dancing club, but no one knew how to play the melodeon.

"I learned to play for them, but I decided I preferred dancing instead.

"If anyone wants to join us, it helps you stay young. There's lots of exercise, it's very sociable and it involves your brain because you have to remember all the moves."

The group performs for fun throughout the year and beginners will be best of joining in September when the group learn their new dances.

To get involved visit maldonmorris.org or contact Ruth on 01376 502266 or aliveandkickingmorris@hotmail.com