BELLS were rattling, handkerchiefs flew and music played as Isca Morrismen celebrated their silver jubilee all over Gwent.

Eighteen morris groups from all over Britain joined the party on the weekend.

The groups performed at pubs across Gwent on Saturday, before reuniting to dance in glorious sunshine on Sunday morning in Magor's main square.

Les Chittleburgh, (pictured) squire of the Isca Morrismen, said: "As one of the founders of the group, I'm quite amazed that we've been going for 25 years.

"Over the years we've been to France, Germany and Guernsey, dancing, and recently we went to the Czech Republic.

"People out there have never seen it before and whenever we danced, even in large towns, we had so many people watching that we stopped the traffic.

"Morris dancing has always been part of rural life and it's not just an English tradition. "It's been done throughout the British Isles since medieval times, and we dance in the Welsh national colours.

"The weekend went very well indeed and we were extremely lucky with the weather. "The groups who came were very taken with the scenery and with the friendly pubs, and it's left most of them wanting to come back."

Male dancers and male or female musicians who want to join the Isca Morrismen should call Newport 868707 for more details.