WITH May Day fast approaching, the Cogs and Wheels Ladies Morris dancers are preparing for their May 1 dawn dance at the mysterious Nine Maidens stone circle.

The stone circle above Belstone has several legends surrounding it — the most popular stating that the stones are the petrified remains of nine bold young girls who made the rash decision to dance on a Sunday.

They were said to be turned to stone for their heresy, and are condemned to dance briefly every noon throughout eternity.

Every year on May 1, the Morris dancing troupe climb up to the Nine Maidens to celebrate the ancient festival of Beltane by dancing around the flagpole and then dancing at the stone circle itself.

After their dawn dance at the stones in memory of the old legend, the side and their musicians will gather in Sticklepath for a hearty breakfast and more early-morning dancing in the village.

At lunchtime, the indefatigable ladies will join local schoolchildren at Finch Foundry to dance round the may pole and take part in more morris dancing.

The group invites anyone curious to join the dawn dance to meet them at the stone circle at 5.30am.