May Day was being greeted in the traditional way in Otley today - at sunrise on the Chevin.

The town's Morris side, the Buttercross Belles, planned a traditional dance at Surprise View.

The Buttercross Belles, who also celebrate their 11th anniversary today, were one of many UK Morris groups climbing the tallest hill in the Otley district to see in the dawn and mark the start of their dancing season.

Pam Hutley, of the Buttercross Belles, said: "It's just the most spectacular moment when you see the sunrise before you. It's a phenomenally spiritual experience, absolutely magical."

Bradford-based women's morris team Persephone, named after the goddess in Greek mythology, did not get up at dawn to dance but will be heading off to Rochester tomorrow to join more than 100 other groups from across the country performing at the annual Sweep Festival with its larger-than-life size Green Man who symbolizes the natural cycle of fertility, death and regeneration.

The Green Man, whose face is sometimes hidden by leaves or has foliage coming from his mouth, also has a presence in the Bradford area - and not just on May Day.

A carved stone head at Brown Hill Well, in the Prince of Wales park in Bingley, is believed to be a 19th Century Green Man and he appears again on one of the roof bosses at Skipton's ancient Holy Trinity Church.

And a pub is named after him in Otley Road, Undercliffe. Manager Terry Pargeter said: "We don't know much about our Green Man except we've got an old picture of him up in the bar with a pint in his hand. If anyone can tell us more about him, we'd like to hear."