MAYPOLE dancing and other country delights were on the agenda for children who visited Butser Ancient Farm over the Easter school holidays.

Headdresses made out of natural materials such as ivy and other greenery and mini-wicker men made from hay were all the rage.

The activities all set the scene for the approaching May Day celebrations and Beltain Festival, which this year takes place at Butser Ancient Farm, four miles south of Petersfield on the A3, on Saturday, May 2.

The real thing, the traditional 40 foot wicker man which is currently still under construction, is stuffed with wood and straw. It dates back to an ancient Celtic tradition when a wicker man made of woven sticks was stuffed with live people and animals and burned as a sacrifice to the gods to ensure a good harvest.