Despite torrential rain during their procession around Ely over the folk festival this year, the morris dance sides collected a magnificent £1,062 for the festival’s chosen local charity for 2016 – Branching Out.

The morris sides worked hard to entertain the crowds and collect for a great local charity – of particular note was Rockingham Rapper from Peterborough who managed to collect over £100 of the total.

Susan Wiggans from Branching Out said: “This is fantastic news. We will use the money to go towards setting up a social area for the people we support. The social area will be used for relaxation, friendship building and improving health and fitness.”

This year the morris procession was led by intrepid city mayor Councillor Ian Lindsay and his wife Suzanne. Reflecting on the experience, Cllr Lindsay said: “The market day crowds were amused, bemused, cheered and bewildered in equal measure, but the passing tourists thought it fantastic.

“Sadly the weather was unkind, and next year I will recommend that my successor takes a very large umbrella. Because I will certainly recommend that he should continue to support a great tradition that is now an established event in the city’s year.”