THOUSANDS marked the arrival of the new month with a traditional May Day celebration in Iron Acton.

An estimated 4,000 people attended the village’s annual May Day on the Green event which featured maypole dancing, dance and martial arts displays, singing and teas and ice creams.

Westerleigh Brass Band officially opened proceedings while May Queen Alicia Scott, 11, and King George Johnson, also 11, accompanied by attendants Leah Serle-Sandy and Holly King, both aged 10, arrived on a vintage tractor and trailer.

After the crowning ceremony, events got underway in earnest with Iron Acton Primary School performing dances around the maypole before asking for adult volunteers from the audience.

Members of the Kathryn Hurley Dance School performed a modern routine, Iron Acton K9 group led a dog obedience display and there was a Taekwon-do display in a specially-created arena.

Organiser Heather Tillotson said: “It was packed and the sun shone all day.

“It was a lovely day and we had local group the Dixie Belles perform later in the day which encouraged people to stay a bit longer.”

There were also fairground attractions, charity stalls, displays from the Hawk and Owl Trust, facepainters, a play bus for children and a display of steam and traction engines.