A controversial troupe of Morris dancers who black up their faces have performed their traditional procession through a quaint English village.<br /><br />Members of the Britannia Coconut Dancers serenaded locals as they made their way around Bacup, Lancashire on Easter Saturday (April 8) from 9 am to 7 pm.<br /><br />The group, known as the "Nutters”, insist blacking up is part of a clog-dancing tradition dating back more than 150 years.<br /><br />But three years ago, they split from the Joint Morris Organisation, the umbrella group which represents the country’s 800 dancing “sides”.<br /><br />The body said in their ruling that “full face black or other skin tone make-up is a practice that has the potential to cause deep hurt” so members should stop.<br /><br />However, the troupe voted to continue blacking their faces up, claiming "it has no connection with ethnicity nor any form of racial prejudice".<br /><br />This year, members of the troupe claimed their event was “under threat” after Rossendale Council said it would no longer provide funding for the procession.<br /><br />But it did go ahead as planned today after a donation page set up by the Nutters' supporters raised £905 towards its costs.<br /><br />Council leader Alyson Barnes said: “The large costs associated with road closure for significant events is no longer funded by the police and the council now has to foot the bill.<br /><br />“As a result, the council will not be in a financial position to cover the costs associated with road closure for events by the Britannia Coconut Dancers or other community groups.<br /><br />“Our expectation from now onwards will be that the Coconutters fund the full costs of their own activities, as we expect of other Rossendale community groups.”
