Morris dancers in Oakworth are facing extinction because of falling numbers.

Fast approaching their 25th anniversary, members of Oakworth Village Morris Men could soon be performing their last dance if new members are not found.

Group squire Mark Ashton said: "We've got about eight dancers at the moment, with two musicians who play the accordion.

"However, there were over 20 of us during the boom in the 1970s and 1980s.

"If nothing is done, it could just die out."

The 32-year-old took up morris dancing 20 years ago at the tender age of 12.

He now dances all year round with the Oakworth group.

Annual events include an Easter Bank Holiday dance in Haworth, a tour of the Yorkshire Dales, a dance at Cowling Pinnacle, at dawn on May 1, and a weekend of dance in June, with invited groups from around the country.

Mark added: "Not only do our members keep a tradition going, they travel all over the place, meet lots of new, interesting people and keep fit.

"A lot of people struggle to define English culture these days and you could say that morris dancing is it.

"It's a great hobby to do."

The Oakworth Village Morris Men was formed in September, 1981, and has a golden fleece suspended from the white rose of Yorkshire as its membership badge.

Members dance Cotswold morris, which is traditional dances from villages in the south Midlands.

Their current repertoire includes dances from the villages of Adderbury, Bampton and Headington, in Oxfordshire, Ilmington in Warwickshire, Bledington in Gloucestershire, and Upton-upon-Severn.

Meetings are held every Monday, at 8pm, at Oakworth Methodist Church, and anybody interested in joining can call 01535 691153 or visit www.geocities.com/oakworth/ovmm.