Lancashire troop of Morris dancers blacks up in defiance of ancient tradition’s governing body that banned the practice and council that axed their funding

A controversial troupe of Morris dancers performed today with blacked up faces in spite of bans put in place by their former governing body.

The Britannia Coconut Dancers put on a 10-hour show for locals this Easter Saturday as they made their way through Bacup town in Lancashire.

Wearing black makeup, the group insist that covering their faces comes as part of a clog-dancing tradition dating back more than 150 years.

Continuing this custom comes as resistance against their former governing body, the Joint Morris Organisation.

The Nutters split from the umbrella group three years ago following their ruling that members should stop wearing ‘full face black or other skin tone make-up’ as it ‘has the potential to cause deep hurt’.

Read more: Lancashire troop of Morris dancers blacks up in defiance of ancient tradition’s governing body that banned the practice and council that axed their funding