CLOGS tapped and bells rang when a multitude of Morris Dancers from across the country converged on the Lake District for a Millennium dance event.

Helen Birkett, foreman of the Westmorland Step and Garland Dancers, who hosted the weekend festival, said it had been a wonderful success.

More than 200 dancers and musicians from as far afield as Berkshire, Yorkshire and Durham took part, dancing not only in the Torchlight Procession and at Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre but in towns and villages across the Lake District.

"The dancers who had never seen the Torchlight Procession were amazed by it and couldn't get over the number of people out on the street," said Mrs Birkett.

On Saturday, tourists and residents of Elterwater, Grasmere and Bowness were treated to traditional dancing displays from all over England.

"The styles of dance and costumes are very different," said Mrs Birkett.

"The Westmorland Step and Garland Dancers are an all female group and most of our dances are quite pretty and lady-like, then there are groups such as the Carlisle Sword Morris and Clog.

The all-male Sword Morris black their faces which is a traditional way of disguising their identity.".

A ceilidh, complete with leading ceilidh band Peeping Tom and local caller Martyn Harvey, gave the group a chance to unwind on Saturday night and add to their muscle fatigue.

Mrs Birkett said: "The Weekend of Dance 2000 was a group effort supported by South Lakeland District Council, Kendal Town Council and Millennium Awards for All, and we could not have done it without them."

Organising four coach loads of dancers and two days of entertainment was no mean feat, but the efforts of the home team paid off.

"When I saw the dancers snaking down Aynam Road armed with burning torches I thought they looked very good," said Mrs Birkett.

"We have even started talking about doing it all over again."