Children banned from 'dangerous' May Day parade

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Parents of the children in Torrington, north Devon, have criticised the move after organisers of the traditional celebrations deemed the children would be at too much of a risk standing in a line holding bouquets.

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Torrington's May Fair, like this traditional parade, has been threatened with the children's ban

In previous years all 200 children from Great Torrington's Bluecoat Infant and Nursery school have provided a guard of honour in the town square during the procession of the May Queen.

But this year the town's May Fair committee and the head teachers of the infant and nursery school said there's a danger from crowding because a growing school population means there are too many children to fit in the square.

Instead the 260 pupils of the Great Torrington junior school will perform Maypole dancing in the town square.

And the infant and junior school pupils will now just take part in the service at the start of the celebrations and some will take part in a floral dance in the square.

Now parents have started a petition objecting to the ban saying it is a nail in the coffin of the town's May Day tradition.

One parent said: "We understand there are health and safety issues but there has been no consultation - not even with the parents and friends group.

"This is a tradition and many parents are wondering what tradition will go next.

"The decision has got a lot of backs up.

"We want the tradition to be continued and the children should be more involved with the May Fair - this is a community event."

Infant school headteacher Mary Pearson said: "Our priority is the children's safety.

"We have done a risk assessment and felt it was no longer safe for all the children to fit in the square."

Great Torrington Mayor, Richard Rumbold, added: "It will be a shame to have no form of guard of honour so we will try and reach a compromise that will keep the children safe."