reinstate black faced morris dancers at shrewsbury festival

A folk festival has banned Morris dancers in black face make-up after it received complaints they could cause racial offence.

Shrewsbury Folk Festival bosses said dancers wearing full black face paint would not be booked from next year.

But the organisers said there were "no racial connotations" and they had "never wanted to upset people."

Fairness, Respect, Equality Shropshire (Fresh) said the ban showed sensitivity "to a changed social climate".

The weekend's event will be the last where Morris dancers will be allowed to showcase the 500-year-old custom of covering their faces with black make-up.

But the festival's organisers said it was "a national issue that should not be focused solely on the Shrewsbury Folk Festival"

above is the statement from the local rag this is just going to far in my opinion please make a stand and see if we can stop this