A NEW dance and piece of music has been composed to set Callington alight with its own furry dance this May as part of a festival that organisers hope could one day rival Helston's.

The furry dance through the streets of Callington will be the highlight of MayFest, a revival of May celebrations in the town which were last held in the 1970s and the traditional maypole dancing which goes back to the 1800s in Callington.

After many talks about re-introducing such an event, Callington CAVe has grasped the nettle and plans are firmly in place for May 11 when the town will be filled with musicians and dancers,

With assistance from FEAST, which is Cornwall and Arts Council funding, music has been composed by Rosie Fierek, of Calstock Rubber Band, and the dance has been developed with assistance from Carmen Hunt, who runs Cornish dance workshops in Liskeard.

Saturday workshops to learn the Callington Furry Dance will begin of February 16 in Callington Town Hall and this simple dance will appeal to everyone.

There will also be opportunities to learn a maypole dance or a selection of Cornish step and social dances.

CAVe members are urging everyone to come along and have a go with lots of laughter guaranteed at Callington's 'Foot Stomping Saturdays.' All dances will be taught from scratch and workshops are family-friendly with under 14s accompanied by an adult.

There will be Breton dance displays, English Morris dancing and Cornish dance displays, all forming part of the May celebration.

Festival co-ordinator Peter Watson said: 'We are hoping to get some Bretons from our twin town of Guipavas to join us for the day and we are asking local schools to get involved in maypole dancing.

'On July 12, 1898 the Royal Cornwall Gazette reported that at a hospital fete in Callington one of the most attractive items of the afternoon was a maypole dance by children, so it would be great to see it revived again in the town,' he said.

Part of the town will be closed for the furry dance procession which will begin in Saltash Road, down New Road and into Fore Street. The grand finale will be an evening dance with well known Cornish band Skillywidden.

'We really want people to come forward and participate in the day and would like them to email their interest on the website at: [email protected]">[email protected] or by phoning 01579 384509,' added Mr Watson.

'Furry dances, also known as long dances, have been danced in towns and villages in the past, the most well known being the Helston Furry Dance.

'Now it's Callington's chance to show what it can do. We have the dance, the music and plenty of time to learn the steps. Let's make it a day to remember.'